Al Boum Photo and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Al Boum Photo delighted a large crowd at Tramore by justifying odds-on favouritism in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase and in the process strengthened his position at the head of the ante-post market for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The French-bred gelding landed this Grade 3 prize 12 months ago before going on to take the blue riband at Prestbury Park and trainer Willie Mullins is planning a similar direct route to the Festival highlight in March.
Paul Townend sent the 4/7 shot to the front early on the final circuit, and the eight-year-old gelding took control from the penultimate fence to record a comfortable six lengths winning margin over stable-companion Acapella Bourgeois
Shattered Love could make no impression from before two out finishing a further 13 lengths adrift in third, while Voix Du Reve dropped right away after the third last and trailed home last of the four runners in this extended 2m5f event.
Mullins said, “He jumped well and Paul was positive on him. He got a good blow into him and I couldn’t be happier the way the day worked out.
“I’m leaning towards going straight to the Gold Cup with him from here again. When a plan works we might leave it at that. I’ll have a word with Mr and Mrs Donnelly and see what they want to do.
“Acapella Bourgeois ran fantastic but I was disappointed with Voix Du Reve. He appeared twice in the race and then dropped out so we need to do more work with him.”
“It’s a bumper crowd here and I’m sure the weather helped. It’s great for the track to have a sponsor like Savills and we are delighted to have them,” added Mullins, who is also a director at the south coast track.
Townend was also very pleased with the performance saying, “It’s brilliant to have him back and he couldn’t have done it any better. I wanted to keep it as simple as I could, and I was able to jump and get any position I wanted. He was giving away a fair chunk of weight but I suppose he was entitled to do what he did.
“He was good. He’s not always as clever as that but I got into a good rhythm on him early and hopefully he can go on to bigger and better things again this year. It worked last year, and hopefully it will work this year. He has a Gold Cup won and doesn’t owe anyone anything.”
Paddy Power and Betfair both make Al Boum Photo 9/2 favourite (from 6/1) to retain the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup on the back of this win.
