3.05 3m. 2f. 70yds. 12 Declared. WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £468,750.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €263,766.00 2nd - €99,375.00 3rd - €49,734.00 4th - €24,844.00 5th - €12,469.00 6th - €6,234.00 7th - €3,094.00 8th - €1,594.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - AL BOUM PHOTO can complete a famous Gold Cup hat-trick. AL BOUM PHOTO has shown top-level form in all his chase runs and being a thoroughly dependable performer, he also comes here in good form on the tried-and-tested Tramore-Cheltenham route. Champ, also aged nine, showed strong staying ability in winning last season's RSA and, notably, has had wind surgery last September. The form of that RSA is solid if not top-class (runner-up Minella Indo has been beaten twice recently) and with Champ reappearing with a cracking run over a totally inadequate two-miles at Newbury last month, he is sure to step up from that run and can make the selection work. Drying ground will suit Frodon, who won the King George last December. Frodon has already won the Ryanair Chase at this meeting and being in the form of his life, looks sure to get involved today, albeit he faces his toughest task todate. A Plus Tard is interesting as he has shown excellent staying ability in winning at Leopardstown over Christmas. That was just his second run over three miles and, notably, was also running in a first-time tongue-tie. Today's extra distance could also suit and having beaten Kemboy in that Leopardsown race, is a proven high-class performer who needs another step to be a champion. Kemboy, who beat AL BOUM PHOTO in May 2019, continues as a consistent and high class performer but is vulnerable to top class chasers. Native River is now 11 but comes here in excellent form. Drying ground is a negative for him and having also been beaten 9L by the selection in the 2019 Gold Cup (he didn't run last year), might struggle to win today. Last year’s runner-up Santini was well enough held in the King George and behind Native River latest and clearly needs to return to form while Royal Pagaille was an impressive winner of the Peter Marsh Chase in January and while connections have been brave in opting to run here against the National Hunt Chase, faces a far stiffer task today with drying ground a big negative to his chances.