Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - Owner Philip Reynolds today confirmed that ante-post favourite Presenting Percy is on course to line up in Jump racing's Blue Riband event, the £625,000 G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup at The Festival™ presented by Magners on Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 15.
Trained by Patrick Kelly in County Galway, the eight-year-old son of Sir Percy is already a dual Festival winner, having captured the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle in 2017 and last year's G1 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase. Restricted to just one run this term due to unsuitable ground conditions, Presenting Percy gamely landed the G2 Galmoy Hurdle over three miles at Gowran Park on January 24.
Connections have been keen to get another run into the gelding, however he was ruled out of the G2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on February 16 due to the going. The G3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday, February 23, has now been earmarked as a potential prep run before he bids for a third win in succession at The Festival. Ground conditions will again to play a crucial role as to whether he takes up that engagement.
Presenting Percy has yet to run over fences this season, but his lack of recent experience over fences is not fazing Reynolds.
The owner, who has also tasted success at The Festival with the Kelly-trained Mall Dini, reported today: "Presenting Percy is in great form. I saw him at the weekend and the horse is absolutely terrific - he is in great shape.
"We could have run him last weekend in the Red Mills Chase and we could indeed run him this weekend in the Bobbyjo - every bit of rain which we are getting at the moment helps.
"The intention after winning the Galmoy was to run in the Red Mills as that was the same route he took last year before the RSA.
"Pat had the horse in as good shape as he wanted him to be. I don't want to say anything negative about the ground, but they were going to be jumping out of ground that had been used two weeks earlier and the ground at Gowran was as bad a ground we have had in Ireland all year.
"Presenting Percy is as well as we want him to be and as we have sat and sat all year waiting to get him out, we didn't want to risk him on that ground.
"Pat and I are not going to have many opportunities to win a Gold Cup, so we just had to be extra careful with the horse.
"We are promised rain this week, so we are going to keep the race on Saturday under review. There are 11 entries for Saturday and it would be nice to get him out again in a small field to try and minimise as much risk as possible.
"I would say that it is 50/50 as to whether he would run on Saturday, but hopefully he will run."
|
Philip Reynolds - winners at The Festival™ presented by Magners (3) |
||||
|
Race 2016 Pertemps Network Final |
Horse Mall Dini |
Trainer Pat Kelly IRE |
Jockey Davy Russell |
|
|
2017 Pertemps Network Final |
Presenting Percy |
Pat Kelly IRE |
Davy Russell |
|
|
2018 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase |
Presenting Percy |
Pat Kelly IRE |
Davy Russell |
|
Presenting Percy and connections after winning the 2018 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase
The Festival™ presented by Magners 2019 race programme
Champion Day - Tuesday, March 12 (Old Course) - prize money £1,175,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y £125,000
2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade1) 1m 7f 199y £175,000
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f £110,000
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y £450,000
4.10pm OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y £120,000
(registered as the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)
4.50pm Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (0-145) 2m 4f 44y £70,000
5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 7f 147y £125,000
Ladies Day - Wednesday, March 13 (Old Course & Cross Country) - prize money £1,020,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f £125,000
(registered as the Baring Bingham)
2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y £175,000
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f £100,000
3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y £400,000
4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y £65,000
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y £80,000
(registered as the Fred Winter)
5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y £75,000
St Patrick's Thursday - Thursday, March 14 (New Course) - prize money £1,195,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Golden Miller) 2m 3f 166y £150,000
2.10pm Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y £100,000
2.50pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1)2m 4f 127y £350,000
3.30pm Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £325,000
4.10pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 127y £110,000
4.50pm Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y £90,000
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase 3m 2f £70,000
Gold Cup Day - Friday, March 15 (New Course) - prize money £1,200,000
Time Race Distance Prize Money
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y £125,000
2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y £100,000
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £125,000
(registered as the Spa Novices' Hurdle)
3.30pm Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y £625,000
4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y £45,000
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y £110,000
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y £70,000
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the northern outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump meeting. The Festival™ presented by Magners, which happens in March over four days every year, next takes place from Tuesday, March 12, to Friday, March 15, 2019 inclusive and tickets are on sale. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural arena and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.
More information is available at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces), Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing and Instagram (@CheltenhamRaces).
About The Jockey Club
Cheltenham is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Festival™ presented by Magners and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences The Jockey Club offers through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny made goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. The Jockey Club was founded in 1750 and today is the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and the charity, Racing Welfare. For more information, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact: Sophia Dale, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537 683 sophia.dale@thejockeyclub.co.uk
