Horse racing: Al Boum Photo wins Cheltenham Gold Cup
CHELTENHAM, England (Reuters) – Al Boum Photo, ridden via Paul Townend, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday to present instructor Willie Mullins his first victory inside the flagship race.
The 12-1 shot beat Annibale Fly and Bristol De Mai as favored. Presenting Percy had a disappointing run. “It feels superb,” Mullins, who had educated six runners-up in the race, informed ITV Sport. “It’s correct to get the Gold Cup subsequently; 3 of my other four runners have been out before the circuit completed. But Al Boum Photo regarded so comfy, and I knew he could bounce.
“I come here each yr and begin afresh, but I didn’t suppose I might have a good Cheltenham with how the wintry weather had gone.” Victory turned into bittersweet for Mullins as one of his different runners inside the Gold Cup, Invitation Only, suffered a last fall and needed to be euthanized. It accompanied the loss of life of Triumph Hurdle favorite Sir Erec who changed into placed down following damage sustained after going over a fence in the race received by 20-1 shot Pentland Hills.
“There was no reason we may want to have expected that injury (to Sir Erec),” David Sykes, the Equine Health and Welfare director at the British Horseracing Authority, informed ITV. “Beforehand, while he turned into checked, the vets suggested he moved nicely and had no indication of lameness or accidents. We are never going to stop that kind of catastrophic accident.” Three horses have died on the four-day pageant after Tuesday’s fatal harm to Mullins-trained Ballyward.
