Townend delighted as Al Boum Photo defends Gold Cup

Winning jockey Paul Townend described Al Boum Photo as 'unreal' in the wake of Friday's successful Gold Cup defence at Cheltenham.

Al Boum Photo produced a magnificent effort to claim the spoils on the final day at Prestbury Park, becoming the first horse since Best Mate in 2003 to win back-to-back renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There were several horses in contention two from the finish, but it was Willie Mullins’ charge who led his rivals over the final fence, managing to hold off those behind him to reach the finish line first.

Santini was switched to the centre of the track by Nico de Boinville to have another crack at the leader up the hill and did get to within striking distance, but Al Boum Photo was too strong and ended up scoring by a neck.

Reacting to the win, Townend, as quoted by sportinglife, said: ‘It’s amazing.

I tell you, I’d want some boot in the rear end if I was in front that early and got beat by Santini, though.

I thought I’d never feel anything like the feeling I had here last year, I think this is even better.

‘It’s all about this, it’s all about this lad.

Unreal, it’s a credit to Willie.

To come here with one run, the man’s a genius.’

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