THE F E S T I VAL™ SUPPORT I NG WE L LCH I LD
16-19 MARCH 2021 DAY
OTTWNHEFOROEUER H orseracing’s Blue Riband event is the Grade One WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race steeped in history and which name into racing folklore and, all being well, the current holder Al Boum Photo will be bidding to create his a good omen for March and pleasing Mullins in the process. Explaining his logic in following the same well-trodden path, he said simply: “Don’t break a winning formula when it works.” It was on Day Four of last year’s Festival Each of the 28 races at The Festival™ supporting WellChild are special in their own right, but Day Four of Jump racing’s ‘Olympics’ is the crescendo towards which – for many – the whole season has been building
own history this year. Victory for Willie Mullins’ horse would ensure he is only the second horse this century, after the great Best Mate, to win the race on three consecutive occasions. Al Boum Photo’s rst Gold Cup success in 2019 had a special place in Mullins’ heart, as it was a rst and long-awaited victory in the race for a man who is now the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history. It took a specic and well-calculated formula for Al Boum Photo to win and the same route is being followed for a third time this year, having just one preparatory run in the same Grade Three chase at Tramore at New Year’s Day. Al Boum Photo won the same race in Ireland for a third time this year, setting
attracts the attention of casual racing fans and more general sports fans alike. With an ongoing absence of spectators due to the global pandemic, it is impossible for sporting events all over the world to recreate their traditional atmosphere, and Friday’s big race will be no dierent. However, no jockey, trainer or owner winning the Gold Cup this year will give a second thought to the empty stands when their horse crosses the line to win the most prestigious prize of them all. Racing analysts will use the term ‘Championship’ pace when talking about the big races at The Festival and that rings particularly true with the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup, as it tests the mettle of stayers looking to step up to the big leagues by seeing if they can add substance to their stamina over the trip of three and a quarter miles. Winning the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup automatically etches your
that Mullins also secured the leading trainer’s title, helped by victory in the rst race of the day, the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle. It was Burning Victory who took the trophy back to Closutton for Mullins, but the race will be best remembered for the freakish nature that it was gifted to him. The Gary Moore-trained Goshen was seemingly coasting to victory when he dramatically unseated his rider Jamie Moore at the nal ight. Another race on the Day Four card which holds a special place in Festival- goers hearts is the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’
NO JOCKEY, TRAINEROROWNER WINNINGTHE GOLDCUPTHIS YEARWILL GIVEASECONDTHOUGHT TOTHE EMPTYSTANDSWHENTHEIR HORSE CROSSESTHE LINETOWIN
28 THE F E S T I VAL TM SUPPORT I NG WE L LCH I LD PREV I EW MAGAZ I NE
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