Al Boum Photo set for 'major work' this week as Gold Cup preparation intensifies

Al Boum Photo is set for a key workout this week as his preparation for a historic Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick intensifies, with Willie Mullins pleased by the staying star's progress since winning at Tramore last month.

The Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned nine-year-old is following his tried-and-tested route to the festival in March with an 11-week gap between races as he bids to emulate the likes of Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate.

"He's in great shape," said Mullins. "He'll do a major bit of work this week because he's not running at the Dublin Racing Festival. I need to get a really tough bit of work into him."

Faugheen's victory at last year's Dublin Racing Festival ensured one of the most emotive Leopardstown moments in recent memory but the hugely popular performer has been sidelined this season, with the Punchestown festival a possible point for him to return in late April.

Faugheen: could return in time for the Punchestown festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Unfortunately the way the season's panning out, Punchestown would be the option that's left open, all being well," said Mullins.

He added of Benie Des Dieux: "I'd say it'll be straight to Cheltenham. The [Mrs Paddy Power] Mares' Chase would be a sort of target that I had in mind for her all the time but we'll see what way the races cut up. We might have old business to attend to from last year."

Mullins leads Gordon Elliott in the Irish trainers' championship on a tally of €2,378,055 to €2,296,335 and will bid to add to his haul at this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival, a meeting worth €1.85 million in 2021 (down from a total of €2.15m last year due to the impact of Covid-19).

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Appreciate It is 5-4 favourite with Ladbrokes for Sunday's Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, bidding to supplement his nine-length Christmas romp.

Appreciate It: impressive Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown's Christmas festivalCredit: Patrick McCann

"I was hugely taken by that performance," said Mullins.

"I wasn't sure whether he could be that good but he was more than I thought he was. At the start of the year I thought we'd be going further with him. If we were going down the two-mile-and-six route it wouldn't have surprised me."

Mullins has saddled the beaten favourite or second favourite in the curtain-raising Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle since the Dublin Racing Festival began but looks to have a formidable team this time around, spearheaded by impressive Christmas winners Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler.

He said: "The form of Gaillard Du Mesnil's last win is working out well. I think a lot of our horses were probably needing the run big time when he was second on his previous start. I'd prefer it if the race was over two and a half miles, he was a little keen with Paul last time, but I think he'll settle a lot better with that run out of his system.

Gaillard Du Mesnil: form of his Leopardstown win has been boosted in recent weeksCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Stattler just wasn't right for a race we were going to run him in at Thurles but he's back right again. He's probably going to be better over three miles."

He added of some of his other Grade 1 novice hurdles entries: "Blue Lord was a bit keen last time, we're probably going to try different tactics with him. He had a tough race that day and we'll see how he works during the week. I won't commit him [to this race] yet. I think two and a half miles is better for me [than two miles], he stayed well and jumped well at Naas.

"I hope there'll be a good bit of improvement in Ganapathi and I don't think stepping up in trip will be any problem to him. For some reason Shadow Rider is very green and could improve a good bit. I'm going to have a good think about running N'Golo in the two-mile-and-six-furlong race, he looks like he could do with an extra trip but we're wondering about what way to ride him that would suit.

"We'll probably wait for a different option in the next fortnight for Finest Evermore. Gauloise was due to run at Fairyhouse when that meeting was abandoned and she'll probably run at the rescheduled fixture. I didn't expect Mr Coldstone to do what he did at Tramore. I'll look at options for him but maybe we should let him take a chance over two miles on Sunday."

French Aseel (right): has joined Willie Mullins since his wide-margin win for Ellmarie Holden in DecemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins has won three of the last six runnings of the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle and hasn't ruled out running new recruit French Aseel.

"He's settled in well and I'm very pleased with him," said the trainer. "We'll see how he goes during the week. I've had him about a month but I haven't asked him much and I'm banking on the assumption that he is good."

He added: "Youmdour got a hard fall last time but came home that night, ate up and has been fine since. I'll have to think about whether I run him or not. I'll see what he does this week.

"Ha D'Or ran very well on his first start over hurdles at Christmas. He's sure to improve a huge bit and I think he'll be a nice horse some day. Saint Sam finished fourth but I think he ran way better than his finishing position. He probably got the worst run of the race and is improving all the time."

Ramillies: could return to Leopardstown this weekend after impressing over ChristmasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The concluding Grade 2 bumpers on both days also look set to be well populated with the trainer's team, with Mullins particularly taken by the strength of his mares in the division.

"They're a nice bunch," he said. "I don't think we've ever had anything like this before. People like to send us mares and they've been lucky for us."

He added of his Goffs Future Stars Bumper entries: "All three will run, I'd say. I thought Ramillies was huge at Christmas and it'll be interesting to see what Patrick rides. Whatdeawant was very good at Fairyhouse too and I know Patrick loves Kilcruit, he always did."

Read more:

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