Savills New Year's Day Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 6m 19.8s

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Selected odds by:

Acapella Bourgeois^h²⁶⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: J B Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155

16/1

Classy chaser who outpointed Burrows Saint when landing the Bobbyjo Chase for the second year running last February. However, put in his place by Al Boum Photo in this last two renewals of this.

Form: 61/2510-

Al Boum Photo²⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 170| BF| C

1/6

Winner of this en route to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in 2019 and 2020, and again bagged this prize last term prior to coming up short in his Gold Cup hat-trick bid in March. Very hard to oppose.

Form: 211/132-

Brahma Bull³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157

11/1

In good order since returning from a break in September, again finishing in the money when third in the valuable Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury last time. More minor place money is possible.

Form: 01-0233

Burrows Saint^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156

12/1

2019 Irish National winner who ran a stormer in the Grand National in April, jumping and travelling well but faltering late on. Should come on for hurdles reappearance spin and solid place chance.

Form: 1/2624-3

Non-Runners

Annamix³⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: W P Mullins J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Hardline⁵¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Al Boum Photo (1/6), Hardline (8/1), Brahma Bull (11/1), Burrows Saint (12/1), Annamix (12/1), Acapella Bourgeois (16/1)

This race is firmly established as AL BOUM PHOTO's Cheltenham Gold Cup aperitif, and he should have little trouble in winning it for the fourth consecutive season before attempting to regain his Gold Cup crown in March. Willie Mullins is also responsible for four of the other five runners and it could be Burrows Saint who rewards forecast backers this time round. Hardline is third choice.