Cheltenham Gold Cup

Staged on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, on Friday, March 13, 2020, the Cheltenham Gold Cup was, effectively, the last major race run before the paying public. Nearly 69,000 spectators watched Al Boum Photo become the first horse since Best Mate, in 2004, to record back-to-back victories in the ‘Blue Riband’ event; four days later, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced nationwide ‘lockdown’ measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether or not the Cheltenham Festival should have taken place, at all, remains a matter for conjecture, but those in attendance were, at least, treated to a thrilling finish, with the first four home covered by less than two lengths. Favourite Al Boum Photo was spring-heeled at the notoriously tricky fourth-last fence and again at the third-last, but was narrowly headed by the strong-travelling Lostintranslation between the final two fences. He regained the advantage, albeit only marginally, at the final fence and stayed on to beat joint-second favourite Santini, all out, by an ever-decreasing neck. Lostintranslation finished a highly creditable third, 1¼ lengths back, with Monalee a further neck behind in fourth place.

Interestingly, four of the other six horses to record back-to-back victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup – namely Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and, of course, Best Mate – went on to record a third. At the time of writing, Al Boum Photo is, once again, shading favouritism for the 2021 renewal, just ahead of his old rival Santini; still only an 8-year-old, he must have every chance of emulating his illustrious predecessors.

The 2019 renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup was unusual insofar as the favourite, Presenting Percy, trained by Pat Kelly, had not been seen in public since winning over hurdles at Galway in January and had not raced over fences since winning the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the previous year; he was attempting to become the first horse to win the ‘Blue Riband’ event without a preparatory run over fences since Easter Hero in 1930.

In a fascinating renewal, Presenting Percy faced the first, second and third from the previous year, Native River, Might Bite and Anibale Fly, along with Clan Des Obeaux and Thistlecrack, who had finished first and second, ahead of Native River, in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. In any event, Anibale Fly fared best of that sextet, staying on strongly in the closing stages to finish second.

However, it was Al Boum Photo, ridden by Paul Townend and one of a quartet trained by Willie Mullins – who previously had the unenviable record of saddling the runner-up six times – who landed the spoils, staying on strongly from the final fence to win by 2½ lengths. Bristol De Mai, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Daryl Jacob, finished a further 3¾ lengths behind in third. Presenting Percy, who was later found to be lame, and Native River were never really travelling, Clan Des Obeaux appeared to fail through lack of stamina and Might Bite and Thistlecrack ran well below expectations, despite looking well, and were pulled up.

Willie Mullins, the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival with 65 winners, reflected on the victory of the 12/1 chance, saying, “I suppose Al Boum Photo was my third or fourth choice, but we knew that he would go on the ground and we knew he would stay.”