The need to be “ultra, ultra careful” with the horse of a lifetime was behind the late decision not to run Presenting Percy last weekend but there is still a 50% chance, according to his owner, that the rarely sighted Magners Gold Cup favourite could run this weekend. Philip Reynolds dismissed any suggestion of a problem affecting his star on the same day that another horse he owns, Tin Soldier, was dramatically cut in the market for another Cheltenham Festival race, the Pertemps Final.
Along with the reclusive Athenry-based trainer Pat Kelly, Reynolds has been a winner at the last three Festivals, thanks to the efforts of Mall Dini and Presenting Percy. It is an incredible record at the sport’s biggest race meeting for previously low-profile connections and they now appear to have bright prospects of extending that run in three weeks’ time.
“Presenting Percy is absolutely fine,” said Reynolds. “We could have ran him last weekend and we may well run him at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Thanks for bringing some rain with you. Every bit helps.”
He and Kelly felt the surface at Gowran, having been raced on recently and with no fresh ground available, was less than perfect for last year’s RSA winner. “I’m not sure how many more opportunities Pat’s going to have to have a horse go to the Gold Cup. I certainly doubt I’m going to have many more. So we just decided to be ultra, ultra careful, that’s all. Nothing wrong with the horse.”
Little rain is forecast at Fairyhouse, where officials may water the course this week. If Presenting Percy does not run, the Gold Cup will be his first race over fences for a full year, an extraordinary position for the likely favourite.
“I’ve spoken at length to Pat about it,” Reynolds said. “He told me he was happy, if that’s the route we ended up taking. Davy [Russell, jockey] said if we went straight, he wouldn’t be bothered about it.”
Tin Soldier’s Pertemps odds were cut from 33-1 with one firm to a general 12-1 after he was declared for Wednesday’s qualifier at Punchestown, where he must finish in the first six. “I’d be disappointed if he can’t do that,” Reynolds said.
“He’s coming back after a long lay-off and a horrendous haymaker of a fall on his chasing debut, so you never know how they’re going to come back. Pat’s measure of a horse’s wellbeing is when they’re kicking the boards as they go around his arena. And all I can tell you is, for the first time since I’ve seen Tin Soldier while he’s been at Pat’s, he was kicking the boards at the weekend.”
Ludlow 1.20 Monsieur D’Arque 1.50 Kingofthe-cotswolds 2.25 Azzerti 3.00 Stylish Dancer3.35 Kilfilum Cross 4.10 Champagne Well 4.40 Quantum Of Solace 5.10 Ardera Cross
Newcastle 2.00 Claire Underwood 2.35 American Graffiti 3.10 Pinnata 3.45 Barbill 4.20 Trevithick 4.50 Porrima
Doncaster 2.15 What’s Occurring 2.50 Prabeni 3.25 Court Liability 4.00 Rocklander 4.30 Wonderful Charm 5.00 New Look At Me
Chelmsford 5.15 Key To Power 5.45 Al Asef 6.15 Brandon 6.45 Primero (nb)7.15 Matterhorn 7.45 Zorawar8.15 Archdeacon
Wolverhampton 5.30 Picks Pinta 6.00 Geordielad 6.30 Poet’s Pride 7.00 Rosarno 7.30 Halle’s Harbour 8.00 Foxy Lady (nap)
