Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy will revert to hurdles for the third season in a row with trainer Pat Kelly keen for his horse to have a prep run at Gowran Park.
The 2018 RSA Chase winner at the festival is set to line up in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle next month in which he has gone on to win twice in a row in his build up to Prestbury Park in March.
Owner Phillip Reynolds does all the talking to the media on behalf of his horse and was disappointed with his stars performance in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period with the nine year old not being amongst the final four that were grouped together near the line.
(Credit Racing Post) He said: “The Galmoy is the week before Leopardstown so we'll keep an eye on the forecast but, unless Leopardstown are taking heed of what Willie Mullins and Noel Meade have said about the ground, it's highly likely it will be too quick for us there.”
Presenting Percy is looking to become the first horse to land three Galmoy Hurdles on the bounce but ultimately getting this run in ahead of the festival could do him the world of good with the Grade One winner coming back lame after the Gold Cup last year with him only having one prep run before the big race last year.
Reynolds added: “I've had a chat with Pat [Kelly] and we're going to give Presenting Percy an entry in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park as well as the Irish Gold Cup.
"At this point, the Galmoy would look the likelier option. Eddie Scally and the team at Gowran do a great job and the ground is always safe. Gowran have taken to Presenting Percy over the past couple of seasons as well – it's almost like his second home!
“It would be nice to have a crack at winning the Galmoy for a third year on the trot and Eimear Mulhern [chairman at Goffs and wife of the late John Mulhern] is a great sponsor down there, so we'll enjoy it regardless.”