What a classy performance this is.
The relatively unheralded Al Boum Photo (12/1) posted a top-class performance against some star staying chasers across Britain and Ireland to run out an excellent winner of the 2019 Magners Cheltenham Cup - and after many years of waiting, finally handing victory in the Cheltenham Festival highlight to perennial champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival and has remarkably trained the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up on six occasions, but he finally got his win in the most prestigious National Hunt race in the land here - with the final horse of his original four still in contention.
"I've got used to the disappointment of finishing second and I sort of resigned myself to never winning a Gold Cup," said Mullins, whose late father Paddy trained Dawn Run to victory in the 1986 race.
"To have three of my four runners out of the race before they came to the second last first time round - I was depending on one.
"Every time I looked at Paul, his body language told me he was very happy."
This was a first Cheltenham Gold Cup victory for the rider, too.
"I can't believe it," said an emotional Townend. "It means everything. It's the pinnacle and I can't believe I've won it.
"I got in a beautiful rhythm. When you're going well, it just seems so simple."
2019 MAGNERS CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP FULL FINISHING ORDER:
1 Al Boum Photo (12/1)
2 Anibale Fly (22/1)
3 Bristol De Mai (18/1)
4 Native River (6/1)
5 Clan Des Obeaux (5/1)
6 Elegant Escape (20/1)
7 Yala Enki (100/1)
8 Presenting Percy (100/30F)
9 Shattered Love (20/1)
BD Definitly Red (50/1)
F Invitation Only (33/1)
PU Thistlecrack (12/1)
PU Bellshill (9/1)
PU Double Shuffle (100/1)
PU Might Bite (14/1)
PU Kemboy (8/1)