It was a tough festive period for the horse racing tipster as several well fancied horses were beaten but that wasn't the case for Al Boum Photo at Tramore on New Years Day.
The Willie Mullins trained chaser impressed to win the listed 2m5f Savills Chase in good style under Ruby Walsh and now appears on track for a Cheltenham Gold Cup tilt in the spring. The 7-year-old chaser jumped well before pulling clear of two solid stablemates in the form of Total Recall and Invitation Only.
The 2/1F overcame a Grade 1 penalty on the day and now looks set to head to Leopardstown for the Irish Gold Cup during the Dublin Racing Festival next month. The son of Buck's Boum was having his first start of the campaign but he was far too good for the rest of the field despite giving that weight away and connections will now be hoping there will be some more improvement to come.
The horse was travelling well in the RSA Chase last season before falling but did bounce back from that disappointment to win the Ryanair Gold Cup over 2m4f at Fairyhouse on his next start.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the one big race Willie Mullins is yet to win but he will be hoping that Al Boum Photo now offers him a genuine each-way contender at Prestbury Park. The Closutton handler will also Kemboy in the mix this term after his success in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period with connections suggesting that he could now go straight to the blue-riband race.
