Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy primed for Red Mills challenge

Presenting Percy ridden by Davy Russell on the way to winning the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase during Ladies Day of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Source: HRI

Presenting Percy, ante-post favourite for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, heads eight entries for the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The Pat Kelly-trained eight-year-old won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last March – his second Festival success having won the Pertemps Final 12 months earlier.

He made a successful start to the current campaign when winning his second Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran last month and is set to return to the County Kilkenny circuit this weekend for a race in which he finished second to the ill-fated Our Duke last season.

Presenting Percy’s owner, Philip Reynolds, said on Tuesday: “I spoke to Pat this morning and he is very happy with Presenting Percy.

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“He came out of the Galmoy Hurdle very well and has improved from that. Pat is happy with where he has him now and he has a measure to go on because we were in exactly the same place last year targeting the same race this weekend.

“Speaking to Pat he told me he was every bit as happy as he was this time last year.”

His potential rivals include last year’s Gold Cup third, the Tony Martin-trained Anibale Fly, who has been restricted to just one run this season.

Another possible for his owner JP McManus is Joseph O’Brien’s Edwulf who is searching for his first win since last year’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins has entered the talented Killultagh Vic and Bachasson, while Henry de Bromhead’s Monalee is set to take his chance.

The entries are completed by the Gordon Elliott duo of Alpha Des Obeaux, runner-up in last month’s Thyestes Chase, and A Toi Phil.

Elliott is also doubly represented with Farclas and Coeur Sublime in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle, for which there are seven entries.

Farclas could try to land his first success since last year’s Triumph Hurdle, while his stablemate Coeur Sublime fell when holding every chance in the Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.

“As usual we’ll just see how the horses are later in the week before deciding what to run,” said Elliott.

Last year’s winner Forge Meadow, from Jessica Harrington’s stable, is in the mix, and Cristal Icon, Darasso, Glamorgan Duke and Rashaan make up the list.

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