Red alert as Percy swerves Gowran date

Presenting Percy’s preparations for the Cheltenham Gold Cup have suffered a setback after he was omitted from the field for Saturday’s Red Mills Chase.

The Pat Kelly stable star is the 11/4 favourite for the Blue Riband event at next month’s Festival but has only run once since his success in the RSA Chase last year.

The eight-year-old’s only outing thus far came when comfortably landing the John Mulhern Glamoy Hurdle but that is a far cry from the five runs he had in preparation for the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

A lack of give has been the main reason why Presenting Percy hasn’t been seen more often this season, forcing him to skip the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown and the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

The ground at Gowran Park on Friday was yielding to soft ahead of this week’s showpiece Grade 2 event but the decision has been taken to keep him on the sidelines.

Presenting Percy’s withdrawal has left just four in the field for the Red Mills Chase with Grade 1 winner Monalee the new 10/11 favourite with Betfred.

He’ll be up against Irish Gold Cup winner Edwulf, Anibale Fly, who finished third in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cip, and Killultagh Vic.

Monalee, who has options for Cheltenham in the form of the Ryanair Chase or Gold Cup, finished runner-up to Kemboy in the Savills Chase on his last start but trainer Henry de Bromhead is reporting him to be in good form.

Bromhead said: “Monalee was declared to run in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month, but we took him out as we thought the ground was too quick.

“He seems in good form and the plan is to run him in the Red Mills as we’re keen to get a run into him before Cheltenham.”

‘odds subject to change’