Al Boum Photo’s shot at history is not to be missed

In an ambitious early bid for understatement of the year, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since Al Boum Photo landed his second Gold Cup by a neck.

Thousands were in attendance to watch him narrowly deny Santini and, while the absence of spectators will sadly limit the atmosphere, there will no doubt still be a sense of occasion as the powerful nine-year-old bids for a third successive victory in the main event.

Willie Mullins had to wait a long time for his breakthrough win in the Grade 1 and even the champion trainer must be amazed to have a horse with a chance of landing a third, which would place him in the same elite company as multiple winners

Best Mate and Arkle.

With the world around him in constant flux due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Al Boum Photo has provided much-needed consistency by taking a tried-and-tested route to the festival, finishing 19 lengths clear of stablemate Acapella Bourgeois in his prep run at Tramore.

The Gold Cup is shaping up to be typically competitive, with all the biggest yards set to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at it, and it is the type of race that deserves a major crowd. Even with that missing, it looks set to be a belter and is a race not to be missed.