Trainer Henry De Bromhead says Robbie Power is likely to be Minella Indo's jockey as he looks for back-to-back wins in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival. 

The nine-year-old is seeking to win the race consecutively to emulate Al Boum Photo, who did the same in 2019 and 2020. 

Last year, Minella Indo came home to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of stablemate A Plus Tard, who is in the running to win this year's edition of the prestigious Grade One steeplechase. 

Jack Kennedy saddled Minella Indo to victory last year as he took over from usual pilot Rachael Blackmore, who partnered A Plus Tard to second. 

Blackmore then rode him on his seasonal reappearance at Down Royal in October, where he finished third in the Ladbrokes Champions Chase, five lengths adrift of eventual winner Frodon. 

He then ran in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day but hugely underwhelmed and was pulled up with Tornado Flyer taking a surprise win. 

The Irish Gold Cup and Leopardstown was the next task for Minella Indo and Power was selected to race. 

He very nearly steered him to victory at the first attempt but Gordon Elliott's Conflated, ridden by Davy Russell, eventually powered through to win the race by six lengths. 

De Bromhead says he is likely to stick with Power for the Gold Cup with Blackmore once again saddling A Plus Tard instead, although he admits there is a chance Kennedy may still be given the nod. 

The trainer also confirmed his horse has emerged from that Leopardstown race in great shape ready to defend his title. 

He said: "It's highly likely that Robbie will ride him. If Jack suddenly became available I suppose there would be a chance he could ride, but it looks like Robbie is in pole position. 

"I thought Robbie got on really well with Indo at Leopardstown and I was thrilled with the way it went." 

The Waterford handler added: "He's come out of the race at Leopardstown really well. He's actually in mighty form at home, I couldn't be any happier with him." 

Minella Indo is currently 7/1 in the ante-post markets with A Plus Tard and Gordon Elliott's Galvin the leading duo. 

They raced each other in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December with Galvin coming out on top by a shoulder and the pair expected to be contenders once more.