Gold Cup challenge one to relish for connections of L’Homme Presse

Connections of L’Homme Presse are not shying away from the challenge of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Fourth in the blue riband 12 months ago, the former Festival hero is one of just a record-low five British-trained entries among the 19 in the mix for March’s showpiece event, with his stablemate from Venetia Williams’ team, Royalle Pagaille, also among the quintet.

The winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2022, the gelding has long been one of Britain’s shining lights in the staying chase division and finished best of the home team when third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance.

That performance gives the L’Homme Presse camp plenty of cause for optimism ahead of the rest of the campaign and having led the field to two out before suffering an injury in last year’s Gold Cup, they see no reason to shirk another tilt at the ultimate chasing prize.

“It’s an early entry and everyone has to get there, but he ran exceptionally well in the King George to finish third and there’s no reason to see why he wouldn’t do us proud again in a Gold Cup,” said Andy Edwards, who owns L’Homme Presse alongside Pam Sharman and Peter and Patricia Pink.

“We have enormous pride to be in the race, the horse doesn’t know if he’s French, Irish or British and it’s great for us.

“Everyone has to be realistic when going in against Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe, who have already proven it, but the young guns still have to prove they can stay three-and-a-quarter miles at that pace and up the hill. We’ve already done that, so I would be hopeful he could run his race and run well.

“We led the Gold Cup field over the second-last fence last year and there’s nothing in the race to fear and we wouldn’t fear it.

“We were injured at the back of the second-last in the Gold Cup when Gerri Colombe struck into us and the vet said we were lucky to still have him, as it was only a millimetre away from the sheath of the tendon.

“If we’re injury free, hopefully we might stay on a little better from the back of the second-last, where last year he did get that injury.”

L’Homme Presse is a general 25-1 for blue riband glory following Tuesday’s entries, but Edwards has stressed the Gold Cup is not the be all and end all of his season, with a focus on maximising winning opportunities when available over the duration of the remaining months.

Having made the decision to forego an early entry for the shorter Ryanair Chase, he will for now continue to feature over staying distances, with his next appearance slated to be at Prestbury Park in the Betfair Cotswold Chase on January 25.

“Venetia preferred not to go for the Ryanair when we had a chat and we agreed with her thoughts on that,” continued Edwards.

“However, it’s not ‘all in’ on the Gold Cup because it’s not all about the Gold Cup this season.

“Plan A is to go for the Cotswold Chase and see how he comes out of that. We wouldn’t be averse to having a go at another one before Cheltenham (Gold Cup) and something like the Ascot Chase could be an option if he comes out of Trials day OK. You have to take your opportunities when they are there.

“He had a slight hiccup which meant he just missed out on the Betfair Chase. With these horses and the opportunities of where you can run, the next one is the King George so that had to be his first time out.

“For a seasonal reappearance, Kempton was fantastic, he jumped straight, obviously the ground was a little quicker than ideal but he’s come out of the race well and barring hiccups, we’ll be at the Cotswold Chase.”