Al Boum Photo is as short as 8-1 to reclaim the Cheltenham Gold Cup he surrendered last March after a winning return to action at Tramore.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old used the Savills New Year’s Day Chase as a springboard to Festival glory in 2019 and 2020 - and racked up the hat-trick prior to his third to Minella Indo in this year’s blue riband.
Both Minella Indo and Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard suffered defeats during the Christmas holiday racing programme, but Paul Townend’s mount justified odds of 1-6 against three stablemates with a four-length call from Burrows Saint.
“I thought he showed great enthusiasm for it again and, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up nicely up the straight,” said the winning jockey.
“He has no miles on the clock and his appetite for racing is as good as ever.”
Mullins is likely to give Al Boum Photo another race before his bid for a third Gold Cup triumph on March 18 and Townend added: “He showed good enthusiasm there - I don’t think he did himself any harm today.
“Watching the races over Christmas, and what’s happening elsewhere, I definitely think he does have a live chance in the race.”
Ireland’s champion trainer was also in luck at Cheltenham, where nephew Danny Mullins continued his hot streak aboard Stormy Ireland in the Grade 2 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle.
The mare was locked in a battle with Brewin’upastorm when that rival crashed out at the final flight - leaving Stormy Ireland to score by two and a half lengths from McFabulous.
Danny Mullins, successful aboard his uncle’s Tornado Flyer in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, said: “My gut feeling is that I was starting to get on top, but you never know here.
“It’s been a great Christmas period. These big days are what it’s all about.”
