Friday
“I got him out for the Dublin Racing Festival, and I was worried about that, but Mark [Walsh] learnt an awful lot about him. He came back into me and said, ‘this guy can make all the running’, and that was the plan today. He’s a chaser, isn’t he? When he came into the yard and they said he was our Triumph Hurdle horse, I said I thought he was a Gold Cup horse, a three-mile chaser.” Willie Mullins on Majborough
“What a rider that man is. There can’t be one bit of warm blood in his veins - it’s all cold I’d say. To ride it the way he rode it - to me that’s the ride of the week.” Willie Mullins on Paul Townend after the County Hurdle
“I got a lot of satisfaction out of that one to tell you the truth! What a horse to have travelled the world and come back and put in a performance like that on that ground. I was able to go out and take a chance. It’s nice to be able to do that from time to time...I did think, 10, 15 strides out [from the last] that it was on.
“We didn’t jump the last great, but it didn’t cost us - Absurde was cantering all over us. He was always going to catch us. It’s been magic - a remarkable week, and I’m very, very proud of horses, owners, staff and everyone.”
“Absolutely brilliant. He is a horse who jumps very well, he loved that ground today and he battled very hard for me. I can’t believe it, it’s brilliant. The way the week was going, you think it’s never going to happen and I couldn’t wait to go home. It hasn’t really sunk in, to be honest. Fair play to Gordon and Michael O’Leary for putting me up. It’s a big relief to finally ride a Cheltenham winner. To get a ride in a race like this is great, but to win it is unbelievable.” Sam Ewing on Stellar Story
“We didn’t think he was a 33/1 chance to be honest, but we only made the call at ten to ten on Wednesday to run him. I’m absolutely delighted and it’s great for Michael and Anita. They are massive supporters and to get a Cheltenham winner for them is massive. You don’t realise how good a man Michael is. Sam is a great lad and a big part of my team. He’s been coming into my place since he was a young lad and he rode Tiger Roll on the flat when he was 16.” Winning trainer Gordon Elliott
“We were very surprised, it makes up for a disappointing day yesterday – my wife kept presenting trophies to other owners. It was wonderful, a great training performance by Gordon. We have four children at home sending me very negative text messages every time one of our horses is beaten, so I’m hoping we will get a congratulatory text now!” Stellar Story’s winning owner Michael O’Leary
“He’s a smashing horse, it’s just a shame we didn’t get him home. It’s been a tough few months for me and missing out yesterday through nobody’s fault but my own - this would have been nice. I’ve just got to keep my head down and drive on.” Kielan Woods, rider of runner-up The Jukebox Man
“Unbelievable. We had to go for reserves that I wasn’t even sure were there. I rode him obviously completely different to last year and he was just so brave for me. We were kind of in between at the last and I was afraid we didn’t have enough to go for it, but it was a Gold Cup and we had to. We had to go through reserves there [today] that only the really special ones have.” Paul Townend on his Gold Cup winner
“To be honest it feels different to all the other ones (Gold Cup wins) to be honest. I can’t really believe it. I’m a bit lost for words. It’s easy when you are riding for Willie. You can go out and do things, change things and that’s the privilege of riding for the great man.” Paul Townend
“He gallops, he jumps, he stays - what more do you need? I just think he put himself in the superstar category, to do what he did in the way that he did it, and that loose horse there - Paul was so positive on him - I think we have to say, we’re coming back next year to try to win a third one if we can.” Willie Mullins
“To win here on the 100 year anniversary, well that is very special. It’s just been fantastic, we are so privileged to be here and just so thrilled to be part of this magnificent team. I’m just so thrilled that everyone got round and Galopin won. He is so special to us, we absolutely love him and when we go to the stables and meet him, he is just so kind and so loving. He nibbles our hair and has a red ball in his stable. He is just a beautiful, beautiful horse, I just want to snuggle him and cuddle him all day.” Gold Cup winning owner Audrey Turley
“That’s a dream come true, and what a ride he gave her. My only instruction was to save a bit for up the hill. I thought we were beaten going to the last, but boy did she pick up. She’s a star.” Fiona Needham after the Foxhunters
“That was fantastic. Keith was very good on her as she’s not straightforward. She’s a bit of a madam and she nearly kicked a cameraman on her way out. She’s broken a lot of white rail at home. She’s a bit of a lady, but you don’t mind when they are as good as that. I’m delighted for Keith and for everybody.”
Gavin Cromwell after the Mares Chase
“I got as big a kick out of that as any winner this week. To win the Martin Pipe race – he is my idol in life. Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud sponsor my yard, are one of my biggest supporters and very good friends.
They are massive people in sport in Meath and to have their first Cheltenham winner is just unbelievable. What they do for the yard is unbelievable. No people deserve it more,” Gordon Elliott on the final winner