Percy displays Cheltenham credentials at Gowran

Gowran Park was packed to the rafters last Thursday for their biggest race-day of the year, which featured the Grade2 Galmoy Hurdle and the time honoured Thyestes Chase.

Ever since he destroyed the opposition in last years RSA Chase at Cheltenham, the Pat Fahy trained Presenting Percy has been favourite for this years Gold Cup but unfortunately the unseasonably dry winter decreed that Fahy was unable to get him to the racecourse because of the quick ground. The rain finally came and connections were able to target the three mile Grade2 Hurdle, a race that he won a year ago before heading to the Cotswolds. Produced looking a picture by Fahy, the son of Sir Percy went to post a heavily backed favourite in what was a hugely competitive contest.

With his usual partner Davy Russell on board, he was settled off the pace and kept wide throughout, he began to take closer order after the half way point was reached. Russell made his move before the second last flight where he took the lead and maintained his advantage all the way to the line where he had a length and a quarter to spare over the Willie Mullins trained Bapuame.

Returning to a heroes welcome, Presenting Percy was paying a huge compliment to the training skills of Pat Fahy who kept him at concert pitch since last October in the hope of getting a run into him.

Owned by Philip Reynolds, who is a son of the late former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, announced post race that the horse will return to the venue in a few weeks to contest the Red Mills Chase and then dropped a bombshell by adding that aside from the Gold Cup, Presenting Percy will also have an entry in the Stayers Hurdle in case the Gold Cup plans go astray.

The worrying aspect about the horse is that he must have give in the ground and very often the underfoot conditions can ride on the fast side. Should this happen one wonders what route the eight-year-old will take.

 

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