AL BOUM PHOTO Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
Friday (3.30) FOLLOWED a dramatic novice chase campaign — he fell at Cheltenham and ran out at Punchestown — with a win in Listed company at Tramore and victory in the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Beaten by Kemboy, a first-fence faller in the Gold Cup, at Punchestown, he returned to Tramore on New Year’s Day and warmed up for his title defence with a six-length margin from Acapella Bourgeois.
Fellow Gold Cup challenger Kemboy returned with a fourth to Delta Work in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas before a second to the same rival in the Irish Gold Cup in south Dublin last month.
MULLINS SAYS: It worked out fantastic last year, going from Tramore to Cheltenham. I am probably a creature of habit and, when something works, we go back, do it again and hope for the best.
Statistically, Gold Cup winners find it very hard — traditionally, they don’t come back and win the following season.
That is against him, but his preparation is a plus. He’s going there in good order and in a good frame of mind. I thought last year’s race was very tough, and I don’t think this year’s race is any tougher.
I don’t know if he is a better horse this year, as I have not pressed that many buttons and he is not a horse who advertises himself at home. All I know is he is on
target from where we were last year. Normal improvement should come, with his age, and if it does come he should have a fantastic chance.
Kemboy’s two runs this year were very good — he needed the run at Christmas and his run the other day was fantastic.
If the ground dries up it will be a help, but he has it all to do, I think. If he could get a top three or four finish, I’d be delighted.
NEWSBOY’S VERDICT: The statistics speak against a successful Gold Cup defence, but Al Boum Photo took to the race like a duck to water last year and has to be on the shortlist. Kemboy has work to do with Gold Cup rival Delta Work on this season’s
running.
ODDS: 7-2