Al Boum Photo’s firmly in the frame for victory
VERY few Cheltenham Gold Cup winners warm up at Tramore on New Year’s Day but what worked for Al Boum Photo last year has been repeated this season by Willie Mullins.
If it ain’t broke why fix it, as the saying goes.
I’m good friends with Paul Townend and I’d be delighted for him if he does the business again on Al Boum Photo, who arrives fresh, which is a huge plus in my book.
The Gold Cup drains horses to the extent that there are very few repeat winners, as the roll of honour in the great race shows.
Before Best Mate, you have to go back to L’escargot for back-toback champions.
That’s the challenge for Al Boum Photo and he’s the one I’d like to be on, if given the choice.
Paul has bounced back with a couple of winners after the inquisition to the Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday.
He’s a cool customer, mentally very strong, and he’ll have a plan in place, and a back-up too, to ensure he gets the best out of Al Boum Photo.
Two of the horses well beaten last year, Presenting Percy and Clan Des Obeaux, return for another crack at the big one.
I know Paul Nicholls thinks very highly of Clan Des Obeaux and predicts he’ll do a lot better than his fifth place 12 months ago.
The Nicholls yard has already sprung a shock to land the Champion Chase and they have to command respect but I’m not convinced that Cheltenham suits Clan Des Obeaux. For me, he seems to thrive on flat tracks, such as Kempton.
Beating Bristol De Mai last time is not deep enough form for a successful Gold Cup assault. I’m open to being proved wrong but I don’t see him being at the business end today.
As for Presenting Percy, at every corner this week, I’ve heard whispers about his chances. All of them positive. How much store do you put in them? He didn’t fire in last year’s Gold Cup and he hasn’t set the world alight this season.
That he has ability is without question, and he knows Cheltenham well, having won around here twice at the Festival.
In Davy Russell, he’s got a vastly experienced jockey who’s on fire this week. These are all plusses.
As for his trainer, Pat Kelly, he hasn’t had a winner for over a year and if he delivers today, it will be the training feat of his career.
On form, Delta Work appears the No 1 threat. He has won the two premier grade one threemilers this term, the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup.
Gordon Elliott is on a roll this week and will have him spot on. He’s open to improvement and should run a big race.
People can point to the RSA Chase third last year but in a different run race, he could have won.
Santini was ahead of him that day and is the flag-bearer for the Nicky Henderson stable but I see him as a stayer, more of a Grand National type than the Gold Cup.
There could be another Irish success in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle for staying novices where Latest Expectations represents Paul Nolan and Bryan Cooper.
Both men have had good days in the Cheltenham limelight and are overdue another.
Bryan has had some difficult times but he’s kept his head and lost none of his ability. I’d love to see him back on top today.
His grade one win over two miles and six furlongs in the Dublin Racing Festival puts Latest Expectations firmly in the frame and what I like about him is his physique.
A lot of his rivals are still developing whereas he’s a seven-yearold who’s the real deal.
In the Triumph Hurdle, it’s always about strapping yourself in for a fast and furious ride.
Allmankind is a front-runner who likes to burn off his rivals and his nine-length defeat of Cereberus at Chepstow sets the standard here.
Aspire Tower blotted his copybook when he fell at Leopardstown last time and can’t be ignored with a clear run but if Allmankind is allowed set the pace, he’ll take all the catching.
The County Hurdle is always a needle in a haystack job. Ciel De Niege can continue a fantastic Festival for JP McManus.
Placed in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle last year, he was a close second in the Betfair Hurdle last time. Curiously, Mullins has yet to train a Festival winner for JP; it could change today.
In the two-mile dash for Grand Annual Chase honours, I like the look of Greaneteen in the Grand Annual. A lot of his rivals have been around the block but he’s an up-and-coming type who can progress to better things.