Al Boum Photo returns to defend his crown after ending Willie Mullins' long wait for a Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup winner 12 months ago.
Mullins has followed the same preparation which worked so well for Al Boum Photo last season - with just one racecourse appearance at Tramore on New Year's Day, before his biggest date of the season at the Festival on Friday.
Al Boum Photo won comfortably over two miles five and a half furlongs at Tramore, as he had a year previously, and confidence is high that he is capable of joining a list of elite horses to have won the Gold Cup more than once.
After Cheltenham last season, Al Boum Photo went to Punchestown but was no match there for stablemate Kemboy, who had also won at Aintree, having departed
Read more on dailystar.co.uk