Cheltenham Gold Cup: Minella Indo, A Plus Tard & Al Boum Photo set for rematch

Last year's first three will face each other again in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

The 2021 champion Minella Indo, runner-up A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo are among 11 contenders in the race.

Galvin is another leading Irish challenger, while Protektorat, Chantry House and Royale Pagaille are some of the British-trained hopefuls.

Robbie Power will ride Minella Indo for trainer Henry de Bromhead with Rachael Blackmore on stablemate A Plus Tard.

Blackmore, the leading jockey at last year's meeting who went on to win the Grand National on Minella Times, is bidding to become the first female rider to win the Gold Cup.

«I cannot separate the two,» said De Bromhead of his pair.

«A Plus Tard has probably got a bit more pace than Indo but both have a lot of class.»

The Gold Cup, where runners negotiate 22 fences over three and a quarter miles, is the blue riband event as the four-day Cheltenham Festival reaches a climax.

Last year's race was held behind closed doors because of Covid-19 but a sell-out 70,000 crowd is expected this time.

Two-time champion Al Boum Photo is looking to become the first horse to regain his title since Kauto Star in 2009, and the first triple victor since Best Mate 18 years ago.

In addition to the 2019 and 2020 winner, trainer Willie Mullins runs King George VI Chase victor Tornado Flyer and Asterion Forlonge.

Galvin proved his stamina at the 2021 meeting with victory in the National Hunt Chase.

He runs for trainer Gordon Elliott, who missed last year's meeting while serving a six-month suspension after a photo appeared on social media of him sitting on a dead horse.

Protektorat represents Dan Skelton, Jonjo O'Neill saddles Chantry House, with Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams), Santini (Polly Gundry) and Aye