settled 3rd, closer at 11th, 2nd next, challenged 2 out, soon led, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably
chased leader, 2nd halfway, closer at 11th, led next, ridden before 2 out where pressed, headed after 2 out, no extra in 2nd before last, kept on one pace
settled 4th, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
led, soon clear, slight mistake 7th, 8-length advantage halfway, reduced advantage 11th, headed next, soon weakened and pulled up before 5 out
rear, soon behind, trailing halfway, left remote 3rd before 5 out, never a factor, completely tailed off
AL BOUM PHOTO treads a familiar path to Cheltenham where he's won the Gold Cup for the past two years after comfortable victories here. Only just turned eight, his best years should be ahead of him and he should again take of care his stable companion and last year's runner-up Acapella Bourgeois, who ended the last campaign winning the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse by 15 lengths. Another from the yard, Brahma Bull, also won at that level at Cork just over a year ago and ran well after a long absence behind Minella Indo in a Navan Grade 2 in November. I'm A Game Changer has never won over fences and has changed stables while Djingle would need mishaps to the principals to take a hand.
Al Boum Photo (FR) 10-3fav (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 13th, not fluent 14th, headway 17th, led 4 out, hard pressed from 3 out, headed narrowly before last, led again just after last, stayed on well, held on, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar beating Santini (11-10) by nk, 12 ran.
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 15-8 (11-0) Led, slight mistake 7th, slow 6 out and joined briefly next, asserted early straight and 3 lengths lead last, ridden and drew clear over 1f out, stayed on well, easily, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f (1) hvy in Feb beating Bellshill (11-10) by 15l, 6 ran.
Brahma Bull (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Led, joined briefly 8th and 9th, headed 3 out, slight mistake next and soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Minella Indo (11-10) at Navan 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Djingle (FR) 40-1 (11-9) Led, 4 lengths clear at 5th, reduced advantage at 8th, under pressure and headed before 2 out, dropped to 3rd after 2 out, no extra at last where brought down, at Cork 2m 1f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
I'm A Game Changer (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 4th halfway, pushed along in 3rd 2f out, ridden and no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 19 1/2l behind Penny Out (10-11) at Tramore 2m mdn gd in Aug.
