Talking Horses: To keep Gold Cup dream alive, L’Homme Presse must deliver at Ascot

L’Homme Presse is the most high-profile horse running in Britain this weekend and the Venetia Williams-trained nine-year-old will need to put his three rivals to the sword in the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase in order to remain a credible threat to Galopin Des Champs in next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Off the track for 391 days after unseating his rider at the last fence in the 2022 King George at Kempton, L’Homme Presse made a winning return when getting the better of Protektorat in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield last month, an effort that suggests he retains the ability that saw him win the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

There are two slight worries ahead of this assignment. Firstly, that the dreaded bounce factor could come into play on his second start after a long lay-off. The second worry is that he prefers going left-handed to right-handed, a reality that was obvious in the King George.

That being said, he still ran a big race at Kempton and would have finished a good second to Bravemansgame but for his final fence mishap.

Should he perform anywhere near that level at Ascot, he should be too good for the solid Pic D’Orhy, the talented but frustrated Ahoy Senor, and the limited Sail Away.

Ahoy Senor’s trainer Lucinda Russell saddles Apple Away in the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices' Chase but the seven-year-old mare, no match for Grey Dawning in a Warwick Grade Two last time out, might again have to settle for minor honours with Kilbeg King fancied to get off the mark over fences at the fourth attempt.

The Anthony Honeyball-trained nine-year-old has finished third on all three starts over the larger obstacles but his most recent run behind the top-class Il Est Francais and the ill-fated Hermes Allen in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase was a particularly fine effort. A repeat of that performance should be enough to see him home in front here.

Olly Murphy has his team in cracking form at the minute and his Rambo T, an emphatic winner at Newbury last time out, has solid each-way claims in the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Handicap Hurdle.

The Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Swinley Handicap Chase is similarly competitive but Threeunderthrufive, second in his two starts this season, looks capable of going one better on this occasion.

Conditions at Haydock will be far more testing than at Ascot and that factor could see Famous Bridge bounce back to winning ways in what promises to be a gruelling Virgin Bet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase. The Nicky Richards-trained eight-year-old ran no sort of a race at Doncaster on his most recent start but that was on good ground and he ought to be far more comfortable in testing conditions back in Haydock, a venue where he has won twice already this season.

The Grade Two Virgin Bet Rendlesham Hurdle looks a tricky puzzle but Butch is unbeaten in three starts this season and may be able to extend that winning sequence.

Back over the smaller obstacles, Irish raider Colonel Mustard can strike in the Grade Two Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

On his last run over hurdles, at the Punchestown festival at the end of last season, Lorna Fowler’s horse finished third behind the classy State Man in a Grade One and a repeat of that run might be enough in this lesser company.

Selections 

Ascot 1.50: Kilbeg King (Nap) 

Wincanton 2.05: Colonel Mustard (NB)