Willie Mullins plots new route for dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo

Al Boum Photo could be seen more on a racecourse this season as Willie Mullins has said he is keen to get the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner out earlier than his traditional New Year's Day date at Tramore.

Mullins has stuck to the tried and tested approach with Al Boum Photo for the last three years, kicking off his campaign in the Savills Chase at Tramore before heading straight to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup, but that trend could be tweaked this season.

Al Boum Photo won his first Gold Cup in 2019 after just one run at Tramore on New Year's Day and it was a similar story when he successfully defended his crown in 2020. His hat-trick attempt was foiled by Minella Indo in March and Mullins could alter his path back to the festival this time around.

Mullins said: "Ideally, I would like to get Al Boum Photo out earlier than New Year's Day. That's what I'm thinking at the moment but I don't have an intended target in mind for him just yet.

"We'll wait and see what might suit him. He has summered very well and I have been very happy with him since he's come back in."

Al Boum Photo (left): could not defend his crown at Cheltenham in MarchCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

Following the news last month that last season's star novice Monkfish would miss the campaign through injury, Al Boum Photo is once again Mullins' shortest-priced runner in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup market and is a general 20-1 shot. Last season's winner Minella Indo tops the market at 4-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.

Some of the options for Al Boum Photo are the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on October 30, a race Mullins last won in 1999 with Florida Pearl. The Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 20 – where Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard is set to return – is another option as is the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on December 5, although that is over 2m4f.

Mullins has yet to finalise plans for his top jumpers and will bide his time before doing so.

He said: "It's a bit early in the season to be making any plans for my jumpers, so it will be another few weeks before any decisions are made on who is going where."

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