L’Homme Presse has the chance to put himself in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture when he returns to the scene of his finest hour for the Betfair Cotswold Chase on Saturday.
Venetia Williams’ 10-year-old has eight victories to his name, with two of his best performances coming at Prestbury Park in his novice chasing days when he first won the Dipper Novices’ Chase before returning at the Festival to gallop his way to Brown Advisory glory.
Triumphs in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase and Lingfield’s Fleur De Lys Chase have followed and having been the first British-trained runner home when third in the King George on Boxing Day, connections are excited to return to the gelding’s favoured Gloucestershire venue.
Back to Cheltenham
“It will be nice to get him back to Cheltenham, he hasn’t been there since the Gold Cup in March,” said Pam Sharman, who owns the horse alongside her twin brother Ray, partner Andy Edwards and Peter and Patricia Pink.
“His run at Kempton was superb and we’ve never been so happy to finish third, especially with what happened in 2022 (when unseating Charlie Deutsch at the last).
“He was running on strongly at the finish and it’s a track that won’t particularly suit him and the ground wouldn’t have been in his favour. But he jumped straight and did us proud.
“Saturday will be the least (weight) he has carried since his novice days and he will be running round there like a rabbit, so we’re really looking forward to it and fingers crossed he comes home safe.”
L’Homme Presse led the field over the second-last in the Gold Cup 12 months ago before suffering an injury and bravely carrying on up the hill to finish fourth.
Cotswold Chase
With that still leaving a question mark over the stamina-sapping Gold Cup trip, his team hope his Cotswold Chase outing can give them plenty of clues before an anticipated second shot at the Festival blue riband.
Sharman added: “Is the trip going to suit? We don’t actually know because obviously he got sliced into two from home in the Gold Cup and he ended up with 12 staples, it was awful.
“What we don’t know is did he stop because of that, because I don’t think I would have wanted someone stepping on my heels after running three miles, or did he just not stay? We don’t know.”
She went on: “I’ve worked on racecourses for 30-40 years, but had never owned a racehorse before L’Homme Presse. To own a horse like him and walk in at Cheltenham once when he won the Dipper was good, but to walk in again with him when he won at the Festival, you can’t buy that.
“He owes us nothing, everyone loves him and as owners we’re so humbled by the support he gets, we’re just his guardians. It’s the people who say good luck to us, that’s what makes it so special.”
Irish Challengers
Mouse Morris’ strapping grey Gentlemansgame is one of two Irish challengers alongside Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work and is already a winner on British soil after taking the 2023 Charlie Hall Chase.
Pulled up in the Gold Cup, he was last seen staying on into third behind Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in the Savills Chase at Christmas, with Morris backing his charge to thrive if conditions are testing.
“I still think there’s plenty to come from him, but he hasn’t been the easiest horse in the world to train,” said Morris.
“If we get him right, he’s not bad you know. He finished 12 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs at Christmas and that was a good effort. He was staying on and then made a mistake at the last, that wouldn’t have made any difference but he was staying on.
“I’ve read some trying to suggest he’s not that strong a stayer, but this lad will stay all day, I can assure you of that.
“There’s rain forecast and that will suit him, he doesn’t mind soft ground at all.”
Chantry House
Chantry House was en route to hunter-chasing before serving a reminder of his ability at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and now Nicky Henderson’s veteran will attempt to roll back the years once again in a race he won in 2022.
“He was going to go hunter chasing, but he’s in great form,” said Henderson.
“It’s a hotter race than New Year’s Day with L’Homme Presse and all those in there, but let’s have a good go.”
Stage Star is another with plenty of winning form around Cheltenham and represents Paul Nicholls and the Owners Group, with Seamus Mullins’ Tommie Beau completing the line-up.
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