L'Homme Presse emerges as big threat to Galopin Des Champs in Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning return at Lingfield

HOLD the Presse - we might just have a live one for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on our hands.

It's been 13 long months since we last saw L’Homme Presse, but it was worth the wait as he returned in style at Lingfield.

Venetia Williams’ nine-year-old has been off since picking up an injury in the 2022 King George, when he unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last when booked for second.

He had been brilliant in his novice campaign the previous season, winning the Brown Advisory at the Festival two years’ ago.

And all the old ability remains as he beat the rock-solid Protektorat by two and a quarter lengths in the Fleur De Lys Chase - with a huge gap back to the rest.

He was a little scrappy early doors, but you could excuse him a bit of rustiness given his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

He warmed to his task and cruised past Protektorat at the top of the straight before galloping home strongly over the last few fences.

The bookies slashed him across the board for the Gold Cup, with Coral top-price at 12-1 (from 16-1), though Galopin Des Champs remains the hot even-money favourite.

Williams had been toying with the idea of running the horse in the Ascot Chase in mid-February en-route to Cheltenham, but she will see how the horse is over the next few days before making a decision.

She said: “It’s been a long time in the coming. I’m thrilled for his owners, they’ve been very patient. 

“It was a proper race today, they went hard and there were some strong stayers in there who would eke out any weaknesses.

“The Ascot option is there if we want to run him again but I’d say we had him pretty ready today. 

“Thank goodness they got this meeting on - it’s a real relief to get him going again.”

Winning jock Deutsch added: “He had to find his feet early on and I had to ask some questions down the back. 

“He really woke up with me jumping the first in the straight. He has shown his class and shown a few gears at the end.

“He is a very special horse to everyone at the yard and to have him back is fantastic.”

Remember to gamble responsibly

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed