Tramore task made easier for Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo as Monalee not declared

Al Boum Photo's attempt to win Friday's Grade 3 Savills New Year's Day Chase at Tramore (2.37) for a third consecutive season was made considerably easier on Wednesday when likely main danger Monalee was not declared.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Al Boum Photo has started his campaign with victories at Tramore for the last two seasons before going on to Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup glory.

That is the plan once again for the eight-year-old, who will turn nine on Friday, when he will only face four rivals and the race will now be shown on ITV after the channel's schedule was revised following Cheltenham's cancellation.

ITV will show the feature race from Tramore along with three races apiece from Musselburgh and Exeter.

Monalee was expected to be in opposition after plans to run him in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last Saturday were scuppered due to the Covid-19 crisis, but he did not feature among the declarations for Henry de Bromhead, along with stablemate Minella Indo, who fell early on at Leopardstown in Monday's Savills Chase.

Speaking on Tuesday, trainer Willie Mullins had voiced concerns about Al Boum Photo conceding lumps of weight to Monalee, but said of his two-time Gold Cup hero: "We're very happy with Al Boum Photo and he's all set for Tramore. He's in great shape and the race has worked out very well for him for the last two years so hopefully it works out that way again."

Al Boum Photo will carry 12st and gives away weight to all four rivals, two of which are stablemates Acapella Bourgeois and Brahma Bull. Djingle and I'm A Game Changer complete the field.

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