Experienced contenders

LAST year’s winner Al Boum Photo took in the Savills Chase at Tramore on his way to triumph last season, and Willie Mullins is sticking to that formula, with the son of Buck’s Boum again having just the one outing before the spring, in the same Tramore contest, and he was just as impressive as he had been the year before.

Willie Mullins took a long time to find the key to winning this race, and he’s clearly keen to stick to a winning formula here.

Kemboy won the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown before unseating at the first in the Gold Cup, but took revenge on his stablemate at Punchestown. Those also returning from last year’s Gold Cup are third-placed Bristol De Mai, 2019 favourite Presenting Percy (finished lame) and King George hero Clan Des Obeaux.

Kemboy hasn’t jumped well on either start this season, while Bristol De Mai has looked as good as ever despite defeats in the Betfair Chase to Lostintranslation and the Cotswold Chase to Santini, suggesting last year’s novices are well up to standard.

Clan Des Obeaux has landed his second King George after a below-par return at Down Royal where he did have Delta Work behind.

Second-season chasers

Santini and Delta Work filled the places in last year’s RSA behind the injured Topofthegame, and the winner was then beaten by Lostintranslation at Aintree, while Delta Work beat A Plus Tard at Punchestown.

Santini didn’t impress on his return at Sandown, but did when beating Bristol De Mai in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase, where he was receiving 2lb. Rail movements meant that the distance of the Cotswold wasn’t far short of the Gold Cup trip.

Delta Work flopped at Down Royal, but has won both of Leopardstown’s three-mile Grade 1 chases since, beating Monalee in December, and Kemboy at the Dublin Racing Festival, staying on well from the last for both wins.

Presenting Percy was fifth in December and third in February, although hasn’t seen his race out as well as it looked like he would on either occasion.

The negatives

Presenting Percy has, for a variety of reasons perhaps, not been able to show improved form since winning the RSA, and of more concern is the fact his win in the Galmoy Hurdle last year is Pat Kelly’s only victory under rules in the past 18 months. Much is made of Kelly’s excellent record at Cheltenham, but that has to go down as a huge black mark.

Kemboy has run several times at Cheltenham and never been placed, so is ruled out for all his Irish Gold Cup second is a good effort. Lostintranslation looked to have the world at his feet before flopping badly in the King George, and while connections are bullish about his chances after a breathing operation, that represents a pretty unorthodox preparation.

The shortlist

In terms of hitting a standard of form over three miles, the shortlist is a long enough one, but we can arguably narrow this down to Al Boum Photo, Delta Work, Santini, and Clan Des Obeaux.

The one I like least at the prices is Santini, who is hailed as some sort of superstar, but is an eight-year-old who has never managed a Grade 1 chase win in his career to date. His jumping remains a little unpolished, and he lacks the tactical speed of some of his rivals, so how he is favourite is a little bit of a mystery.

Al Boum Photo is flying slightly under the radar because of his one-run preparation, but it was an excellent run in the same race he prepped in last year, and he should be favourite.

Delta Work should arguably have beaten Santini in last year’s RSA, and bolted up at Punchestown. Wins in the Christmas Chase and Irish Gold Cup make him a solid contender, and he’s much respected, especially as he’s younger than all his main rivals. His chance would increase with any drying of the ground.

Clan Des Obeaux has some negatives to overcome, having been seemingly outstayed last year, and having been beaten on all five starts at Cheltenham. His King George win has been crabbed, but while he’s flattered by the margin of his win, he’s not flattered by the manner of victory, and he looked to have finally matured and grown into his impressive frame at Kempton.

I’d be happy to state that he has improved since last year, and he should do better than 12 month ago. His jumping is a big asset, and he’s likely to be underestimated by the wise guys because of past failures.

Back: Al Boum Photo

Oppose: Santini

Consider: Clan Des Obeaux