Last seasons Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo showed he was good health ahead of his title defence a week on Friday after he was sent for a schooling session round Navan after racing on Tuesday.
The eight year old had a stellar season last term after landing the Gold Cup and finishing a narrow second in the Punchestown Gold Cup but this season he looks to be an even stronger horse that may well just land back to back renewals of the Grade 1.
Al Boum Photo was ridden out on Tuesday by his partner in the Gold Cup Paul Townend and Willie Mullins was said to be over the moon with his performance.
He was running alongside stablemates Kemboy, ridden by Patrick Mullins, Duc Des Genievres (Robbie Power) and Melon (Danny Mullins).
(Credit At The Races) The trainer said: “I’m very happy with how they all jumped.
“In the first group we had Kemboy, Al Boum jumped very well, Duc Des Genievres and Melon.
“We put cheekpieces on Melon and I think they sharpened up his jumping nicely.
“We just went for a circuit, it wasn’t fast work as it was just jumping I wanted to get into them. I was happy.”
Other Mullins runners were also on show in another group at the track after racing and the stand out names on show were Allaho and National Hunt Chase favourite Carefully Selected and he was especially impressed with their jumping.
“I was very happy with how they all jumped and galloped,” said Mullins.
“At the moment my preferred option is the RSA with Allaho. I think the rest are all fairly obvious, with Duc Des Genievres for the Ryanair.
“It was exactly what I wanted to do, just give them a nice clean round of jumping.
“You heart is in your mouth all the time. Last year we brought Cilaos Emery and he fell at the first fence so it’s always a worry.
“When they trot out in the morning hopefully they are all sound as well.”