Presenting Percy team prepped to take fresh approach - (2026)

Connections of Presenting Percy will not be overly concerned should the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite go straight into the March 15 race without a prep over fences.

The Pat Kelly-trained Presenting Percy has run only once since he stormed to victory in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last March, landing a Grade Two race over hurdles at Gowran Park last month.

He was due back there last Saturday for the Red Mills Chase to complete his festival preparation, but missed the race owing to the ground conditions.

The Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse this weekend now looks as though it will be his final chance to get a run before Cheltenham and, according to owner Philip Reynolds, the 3/1 Gold Cup favourite is no more than 50/50 to turn out this weekend.

“We could have run him last weekend and may well run him this weekend. Every bit of rain we’re getting will help,” said Reynolds. “Certainly after winning the Galmoy Hurdle, the intention was to go back to Gowran – which was the same route we took to the RSA Chase last year.

“I see there’s 11 entries. It would be nice to get him out again in a small field – just to try and minimise the risk as much as possible. I’d say it’s 50/50 at this stage as to whether he’ll run or not. There’s a chance he will.”

It would be an unorthodox preparation for a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup but Reynolds has revealed that both trainer Kelly and big-race jockey Davy Russell are on side with that potential plan of action now.

“When Pat told me he was happy if that was the route we ended up taking, I was perfectly happy about that,” he added. “I’ve spoken to Davy about it and he said straight after he won the Galmoy Hurdle that if he went straight to Cheltenham he wouldn’t be bothered either.

“I think the Gold Cup is probably one of the very few races in Cheltenham that you could get away with doing that.”

Native River, placed in the Betfair Chase and the King George in his only two runs this season, is 11/2 with Betfred to retain the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Clan Des Obeaux has pushed his way firmly into the picture having won the Christmas showpiece and impressed again when landing the re-arranged Denman Chase at Ascot last Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ improver can be backed at 4/1 for Blue Riband glory in the Cotswolds in three weeks’ time.

Odds subject to change