Friday 13th was certainly not unlucky for connections of Al Boum Photo as he etched his name in the history books to become the first horse since the legendary, Best Mate to win back-to-back Magners Cheltenham Gold Cups. In a thrilling finish in the feature race of the four days, Al Boum Photo and Paul Townend held off a fast finishing Santini under Nico de Boinville, and Lostintranslation under Robbie Power.
The win in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup topped off an incredible day for the Mullins-Townend team, as Paul landed a treble on the day courtesy of Burning Victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and Monkfish in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, with trainer Willie scoring in the Randox Health County Hurdle with Saint Roi.
The pair ended the week as leading trainer and jockey respectfully, with Paul very aptly taking home the Holland Cooper Ruby Walsh Leading Jockey trophy.
It was an emotional day for the O’Sullivan family in the St James’s Place Foxhunters, often considered the Gold Cup for amateur riders, as Maxine O’Sullivan and It Came To Pass were too good for the field and landed the race 29 years after her father won the race as a jockey.
Gold Cup Day is a day like no other, it is extraordinary to be there and 2021 is certainly not the year to miss out.