'I wish I had him in better order' - Willie Mullins' concern over Al Boum Photo

Willie Mullins has poured cold water on the prospect of Al Boum Photo emulating greats like Arkle and Best Mate in winning a third Gold Cup by admitting the ten-year-old is not where he wants him to be with just over three weeks to go to his date with destiny.

Al Boum Photo is a best-priced 10-1 to triumph in the Boodles-sponsored highlight, but Mullins was unusually downbeat when speaking about the chaser who ended his Gold Cup hoodoo in 2019 and defended the crown in 2020.

"I’d rather I had him in better order, to be honest," Mullins said with refreshing frankness on Wednesday at a pre-festival press morning organised by the Jockey Club.

Elaborating on the issue, Mullins added: "I brought him away to work and I wasn't happy with him. We still have plenty of time, though. He's fit and I think he’s in better form this morning and over the last few days. I just gave him a few easy days after his work. Maybe it just wasn't his day when I brought him away, but he usually comes right for Cheltenham.

"It's just a matter of hoping he comes into form. We were probably hard on him because he hadn’t had racing, and maybe that just backfired on me a little bit."

The last ten-year-old to win the Gold Cup was Cool Dawn in 1998 and Mullins is worried he has overcooked Al Boum Photo since his traditional New Year's Day victory under Paul Townend in the Savills Chase at Tramore.

He said: "Paul was very happy with him after Tramore. He said he was in way better form than he was when winning there the year before, so we thought 'Wow, that's good, it takes a bit of the pressure off'.

"But, because we hadn’t had a chance to run him, I was working him very hard at home and maybe I overcooked it a bit at his age. It'll be about freshening him up, rather than more hard work."

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Mullins was more upbeat when it came to his audacious attempt to inflict a first defeat on Honeysuckle in the Unibet Champion Hurdle with Appreciate It, who hasn't been seen since running away with last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

He said: "He looks to be in great form at home. I had him away for a gallop last week and I was very pleased with him. He galloped very well.

"It's a big challenge for any horse to take on Honeysuckle. She looks the real deal. She races any way Rachael [Blackmore] puts her and she's going to be very hard for any horse to beat. There doesn't look to be too much around at the minute that can beat her."

Appreciate It is pleasing Willie Mullins in his preparation for the Champion HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

When asked about sending Appreciate It to the festival without a run, he added: "I think we have a good record for doing that. We’ve done it with plenty of horses first time out at Cheltenham, although I don’t know that we’ve done it for the Champion Hurdle. Quevega did it, and Joe Cullen would have been having his first run that season in the bumper, so it’s not something I’m worried about.

"I made that decision ages ago. I didn’t think he needed a run as we got closer to the festival, as I’m very happy with how he’s been working."

The showdown between Appreciate It and Honeysuckle will be one to savour and so too will the Turners Novices' Chase battle between Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs after Mullins revealed it was his preferred destination for his star novice.

Galopin Des Champs earned a Racing Post Rating of 163 for his chasing debut win at Leopardstown over Christmas, the highest RPR for a newcomer over fences in the modern era, and backed it up with an impressive nine-length success in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Turners Novices' Chase: entries and betting

Given that he won a Grade 1 over three miles as a novice hurdler last season, the consensus had been that the Brown Advisory would be his target at Cheltenham, but Mullins is keen to go for the shorter race instead.

"Galopin did it very well at Leopardstown and I can't see him going up to three miles. It's not a decision yet but at the moment I'd be favouring going for the shorter race.

"He was so good the first day and he was very brave the last day. I think Paul [Townend] learned a lot about him the last day. He could go in either race and I want to have a chat with Paul, but I'd be happy enough to go in the Turners.

"I think he has the ability to do that. He jumps well, he's sharp and I don't think he needs to go three miles."

When asked whether it was a case of picking the race that suits Galopin Des Champs best, rather than taking into account the standard of opposition, Mullins replied: "Yes, definitely."

He added: "Bob Olinger is obviously a worry but I'd be thinking our man would be better off in the shorter race. I'll have a chat with Paul and I'll see what way he's thinking, but that's what I'm thinking at the moment."

Bookmakers were quick to react to Mullins' comments and Galopin Des Champs is now rivalling his Henry de Bromhead-trained rival for favouritism in the 2m4f contest.

Galopin Des Champs was Paddy Power's 11-10 favourite on Wednesday night, with Bob Olinger 5-4, but a few other firms still had Bob Olinger narrowly ahead at 4-5.

Turners Novices' Chase

Paddy Power: 11-10 Galopin Des Champs, 5-4 Bob Olinger, 4 L'Homme Presse, 5 Bravesmansgame, 6 Blue Lord, 8 Riviere D'Etel, 10 bar

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