Al Boum Photo to start new year in familiar fashion Dual Gold Cup winner heads to Tramore as usual on Saturday where he will bid for a fourth consecutive win in the Grade 3 Savills New Year's Day Chase. The Buck's Boum gelding slammed Acapella Bourgeois by 19 lengths in the 2021 renewal and that rival reopposes along with fellow stable companions Annamix, Brahma Bull and Burrows Saint. The only non-Willie Mullins runner in the field of six is Gordon Elliott's Hardline Jockey Paul Townend is looking forward to getting back on board the horse who will turn ten on the day. Townend told journalist Dave Keena: "I personally feel that he under-performed all last season (third in the Gold Cup and second to Clan Des Obeaux at Punchestown) and, if we can get him back to what he was, I think there's plenty of life in him yet. "He's shown good enthusiasm at home again and we just have to keep everything crossed that we can get over the day in Tramore first. "The race has been a good advertisement for Savills. They have a dual Gold Cup winner taking part in their race and it's very kind of them to keep renewing the sponsorship down there. It's very important for us to have sponsors to keep these races going."
