THREESY RIDER

‘I was about 14 when Best Mate emulated Arkle. I firmly believe Al can do it too’

- DAVID YATES

HE’S the horse who threatened to define Paul Townend’s career.

Happily for Al Boum Photo’s jockey, he still does.

On Friday, the nine-year-old will line up behind the starting tapes for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, less than seven minutes away from National Hunt racing immortality.

The venerated quartet of five-time winner Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate are the only horses to have landed the Festival’s signature race on three occasions.

Al Boum Photo has captured the last two runnings and is Ladbrokes’ 5-2 favourite to add his name to the exclusive list.

“I never thought I would win one Gold Cup,” admits the 30-year-old. “I couldn’t believe it when it happened a second time, so I can only imagine what it would feel like to win it a third time.”

This is the same horse from whom the Co Cork-born rider crashed to the ground amid the mayhem at the 2018 Punchestown Festival that brought the Willie Mullins trainee’s first season over fences to a chaotic end.

A short-circuit in Townend’s mind caused the jockey to steer Al Boum Photo, the leader, wide of the Champion Novice Chase’s final obstacle, smashing through the plastic wing and taking Finian’s Oscar out with him.