Al Boum Photo bids to join racing’s all-time greats by winning a third Cheltenham Gold cup, as the Festival reaches its climax this afternoon.
The Irish ace heads a 12 strong field for the Blue Riband.
His trainer Willie Mullins is well aware his stable star is on the threshold of history.
“He’s uncomplicated, he’s very nice to train, little did I think when we were buying him that we would be in this position or the day that he ran out in Punchestown or even when he had the mishap with Ruby (Walsh) jumping the last in Cheltenham,” said Willie.
“He’s got a funny back history and here he is, a double gold cup winner, going for his third, we’re very privileged to have him” he added.
There have already been 17 Irish winners at the Festival.
The Mullins dynasty has left its mark too after Willie enjoyed grade one glory and his cousin Danny rode his first winner at the festival in the feature on Flooring Porter, Emmet Mullins has joined a select cast of those who have trained and ridden festival winners.
He saddled The Shunter to land the Paddy Power Plate.
Also, Gavin Cromwell trained 12-to-1 shot Flooring Porter won yesterday’s feature race – the Stayers Hurdle, guided home by Danny Mullins – his first-ever win at the festival.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny man Paul Hennessy, best known for training the greyhounds, seen Heaven Help Us, ridden by Richie Condon, winning the Coral Cup in style.
It was the first festival success for the trainer and it was Condon’s first ride at the Festival.
