Connections of L’Homme Presse will not be shying away from the problem of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Fourth within the blue riband 12 months in the past, the previous Competition hero is considered one of only a record-low 5 British-trained entries among the many 19 within the combine for March’s showpiece occasion, along with his stablemate from Venetia Williams’ group, Royalle Pagaille, additionally among the many quintet.
The winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2022, the gelding has lengthy been considered one of Britain’s shining lights within the staying chase division and completed better of the house group when third within the King George VI Chase at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance.
That efficiency offers the L’Homme Presse camp loads of trigger for optimism forward of the remainder of the marketing campaign and having led the sphere to 2 out earlier than struggling an harm in final yr’s Gold Cup, they see no cause to shirk one other tilt on the final chasing prize.
L’Homme Presse completed an honourable third at Kempton (Adam Morgan/PA)
“It’s an early entry and everybody has to get there, however he ran exceptionally nicely within the King George to complete third and there’s no cause to see why he wouldn’t do us proud once more in a Gold Cup,” mentioned Andy Edwards, who owns L’Homme Presse alongside Pam Sharman and Peter and Patricia Pink.
“We now have monumental pleasure to be within the race, the horse doesn’t know if he’s French, Irish or British and it’s nice for us.
“Everybody needs to be practical when moving into in opposition to Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe, who’ve already confirmed it, however the younger weapons nonetheless need to show they will keep three-and-a-quarter miles at that tempo and up the hill. We’ve already accomplished that, so I might be hopeful he might run his race and run nicely.
“We led the Gold Cup discipline over the second-last fence final yr and there’s nothing within the race to concern and we wouldn’t concern it.
L’Homme Presse in motion at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
“We had been injured behind the second-last within the Gold Cup when Gerri Colombe struck into us and the vet mentioned we had been fortunate to nonetheless have him, because it was solely a millimetre away from the sheath of the tendon.
“If we’re harm free, hopefully we’d keep on a bit of higher from the again of the second-last, the place final yr he did get that harm.”
L’Homme Presse is a normal 25-1 for blue riband glory following Tuesday’s entries, however Edwards has harassed the Gold Cup is just not the be all and finish all of his season, with a give attention to maximising successful alternatives when accessible over the length of the remaining months.
Having made the choice to forego an early entry for the shorter Ryanair Chase, he’ll for now proceed to characteristic over staying distances, along with his subsequent look slated to be at Prestbury Park within the Betfair Cotswold Chase on January 25.
L’Homme Presse and connections (PA)
“Venetia most popular to not go for the Ryanair once we had a chat and we agreed together with her ideas on that,” continued Edwards.
“Nonetheless, it’s not ‘all in’ on the Gold Cup as a result of it’s not all concerning the Gold Cup this season.
“Plan A is to go for the Cotswold Chase and see how he comes out of that. We wouldn’t be averse to having a go at one other one earlier than Cheltenham (Gold Cup) and one thing just like the Ascot Chase may very well be an choice if he comes out of Trials day OK. You must take your alternatives when they’re there.
“He had a slight hiccup which meant he simply missed out on the Betfair Chase. With these horses and the alternatives of the place you’ll be able to run, the following one is the King George in order that needed to be his first day out.
“For a seasonal reappearance, Kempton was incredible, he jumped straight, clearly the bottom was a bit of faster than excellent however he’s come out of the race nicely and barring hiccups, we’ll be on the Cotswold Chase.”
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