Paul Townend is relishing the prospect of being reunited with Galopin Des Champs next Sunday, when the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero bids for back-to-back victories in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old kicked off a tremendous campaign with victory in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1 last season before going on to lift the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and the blue riband at Prestbury Park in March.