Tramore Racecourse will welcome dual gold winner Al Boum Photo on New Years Day as part of a seven-race programme starting at midday.
The Willie Mullins trained horse has claimed the Savills Chase at Tramore on his last three attempts, and this afternoon will look to make it four in a row.
His pilot on the day, will be four-time Irish Champion jumps jockey Paul Townend who told Dave Keena that he couldn't think of a better way to kick start the year.
"Really looking forward to it. Got to sit on him the other morning, he feels really well. It's a thrill on New Year's Day to hopefully start the year on a good note."
Having come to Tramore for the past three years, it's become a trend for Mullins to open up the ten-year-old's account for the year at the seaside. This year the ground looks to be what Mullins has been looking for, with conditions perfect for jumps racing, something Townend is excited to sample
"It happened the first year bit by accident, and it worked so - we're creatures of habit, and he's going back there again. He seems in good form. It's a race that suits him and yeah, fingers crossed, we can do the job down there again."
Looking at the ten-year old's race record; he's only run 18 times and Townend thinks there's plenty more to come.
"I feel he underperformed all last season so if we can get him back to what he was, I think there's plenty life in him yet. He shown good enthusiasm for it at home again and yeah, we just have everything crossed that we can get over the day in Tramore first"
Racing gets underway at the seaside from 12 pm and WLR will be live at the racecourse from 1 o clock with the Saturday jukebox.
