Dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo likely to take in Tramore on New Year's Day

Al Boum Photo will follow a tried-and-tested path to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Willie Mullins revealing that a trip to Tramore on New Year’s Day is “very tempting” – to the delight of the track’s manager Owen Byrne.

The dual Gold Cup winner will bid to win Tramore’s best race, for which attendance will be capped at 4,000, for a fourth successive year.

The Irish government announced new Covid restrictions on Friday evening that caps spectators for the Christmas period and up until January 30 at 5,000 people or 50 per cent of capacity.

Officials at Leopardstown were still assessing the implications of that bombshell on Saturday. However, the news does not affect Down Royal, Limerick or Tramore given each track was planning for a figure of 5,000 or fewer on their respective racedays.

Byrne, who believes a bar will have to be named after Al Boum Photo at Tramore, such is his standing among the locals, revealed the track had always been planning to limit numbers at 4,000.

Al Boum Photo has won on New Year's Day at Tramore in each of the last three yearsCredit: Healy Racing

He explained: “We've reduced our capacity to 4,000 and I'd expect to hit that. We weren't tempted to up it to 5,000 because we will have industry and owners on top of the 4,000 people and it will make it a nice and manageable number. It will be a comfortable experience for everyone.”

Byrne added: “Al Boum Photo has been an unreal flagbearer for our track and we can't wait to welcome him back on New Year's Day. He's been a fantastic horse for Savills, who sponsor the race, as well. We've very lucky to have him and I'm sure that when the day comes that he retires there will be a bar named after him here.”

The likelihood of soft ground has played a significant role in Mullins directing Al Boum Photo back to Tramore.

Mullins said: “Looking at the weather forecast, I would imagine that Al Boum Photo will go to Tramore on New Year's Day. It looks very tempting.”

Byrne also guaranteed trainers that the County Waterford track would produce soft ground on New Year’s Day and that watering would take place at Tramore if the dry spell persists.

He said: “I let the trainers know we will be watering if we have to in order to produce ground that is on the slow side. We are due a fair bit of rain next week so we may not have to, but the ground will be on the safe side for all of the good horses we are trying to attract here.”

Limerick interim manager Paddy Dunican revealed there are tickets still available for the four-day Christmas festival, but has urged racegoers to book online for the meeting from December 26 to 29.

He said: “The new restrictions mean we are limited to 5,000 people per day but, over the four days, that's 20,000 people, which is a significant number.

"We're naturally disappointed with the restrictions but, equally so, we understand the reason why they have been brought in and will continue to follow government advice.

"Limerick is a large racecourse with huge open spaces and we're investing a significant amount of money into outdoor facilities. We would advise people to book tickets online to avoid disappointment.”

Read more:

Racing faces uncertainty amid reports England faces fresh lockdown

Chepstow 'geared up for any eventuality' with Covid measures looming on Monday

Leopardstown to reassess Christmas plans after government caps crowds at 5,000

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