'It was a blinding seasonal debut' - Tom Symonds picks out a festive eyecatcher
Mick Fitzgerald, Ben Pauling and Kevin Ross also join the panel
If not Al Boum Photo then who wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Mick Fitzgerald, ITV/Sky Sports Racing Al Boum Photo was impressive at Tramore and is the most likely winner, but I still feel we haven’t seen the best of Santini. We saw what he was capable of in last year’s stop-start Gold Cup and headgear, having worn cheekpieces in the race last year, might help him again.
Charles Hitchings, Sporting Index Santini would be a major danger back at Cheltenham, but I feel that while the Savills Chase at Leopardstown didn’t enlighten us as much as we had hoped, the main danger will come from that race. Of those horses, I’d probably favour Delta Work at the current prices.
Ben Pauling, trainer I think Champ’s performance in the RSA last year was one of a horse who stays every yard of the trip. I know Nicky [Henderson] is struggling to find an opportunity for him, but he won’t have had a hard season and is the one who could improve most and give Al Boum Photo plenty to think about.
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