Cheltenham Gold Cup 2022 Horse Profile: Al Boum Photo

A dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Al Boum Photo will look to recapture his Grade 1 crown when he lines up on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival on March 18, and the Willie Mullins-trained superstar is sure to be a leading contender for what is set to be a wide open renewal in 2022...

Al Boum Photo

Age: 10

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Chase Runs: 15

Chase Wins: 8

Notable Race Wins: 2018 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase, 2019, 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Cheltenham Festival)

Al Boum Photo failed in his quest to emuate the mighty Best Mate by winning three Cheltenham Gold Cups on the bounce, as the Willie Mullins-trained star could only finish third to Minella Indo in the 2021 renewal, but the Closutton inmate will be back for another crack at one of racing's biggest prizes and he's yet again a leading contender.

A surprise winner of the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Al Boum Photo then retained his crown 12 months later with a sumptuous performance to claim the blue riband event once again. Now looking to launch into the spotlight once again on March 18, Al Boum Photo heads to Prestbury Park aiming to become the first horse since Kauto Star who has lost the Gold Cup crown, but has duly recaptured the coveted trophy.

As has been the case in recent seasons for the Mrs J. Donnelly-owned raider, he's been seen only once in the lead-up to the contest, and his customary New Year's Day outing at Tramore proved fruitful once again as he landed the New Year's Day Chase for a fourth year on the bounce. Beating stablemate Burrows Saint by four lengths that day, Al Boum Photo will need to improve considerably from that outing, as he was kept up to his work that day by potential Grand National player Burrows Saint, and he will face much stiffer opposition in the Gold Cup.

A horse that comes alive in the spring at the Cheltenham Festival, Al Boum Photo is sure to run a solid race once again, but now ten years old could he be vulnerable to a potential improving youngster? That remains the question as he's set to line up in his fourth Gold Cup on the final day of the meeting, and he adds significant depth to the race.