Presenting Percy for trainer Patrick Kelly is a seven year old has been an ultra consistent hurdler and now chaser for many years but this year he could be the horse to go on and win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The majority of the jumps racing world will know or should know who this Irish based horse is after winning at the Cheltenham Festival for back to back years.
His first winner at the festival came in 2017 when he won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle and really made a name for himself on the big stage. This year he backed this up in sublime fashion by easily romping home to take the Grade 1 RSA Chase and set a marker for next season.
Now the season is upon us the obvious step up for this horse who we know stays longer than three miles would be the Gold Cup and the jockey who has rode him most his career, Davy Russell thinks so too.
It is all down to his owners with what actual race he will be put in, if fit for the Cheltenham Festival but we think if he is supplemented he is the one to beat this season in the Gold Cup on the Friday.
His trainer Phillip Reynolds however, still has many options in his head in the lead up to march but his biggest worry at the moment is waiting for the ground to be soft enough so he can start his seasonal campaign.
He was supposed to get underway this weekend at Punchestown in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase but was pulled out because the ground was to firm.
His owner has specified the next logical option is Leopardstown at Christmas but still it is feared the ground will be to hard wit Ireland having a big problem with this.
This leaves a spot for him to travel over to England early and the next race of his specifics is the Grade 1 King George VI on Boxing Day at Kempton and in this interview he does make a strong case that this could happen.
Presenting Percy is now a general 8/1 for the George where as before he did not enter many peoples calculations to come over here to early.
The future is very bright for this Patrick Kelly trained seven year old but the yard is facing a test of time now to get him in the best shape possible and to give him enough rides to be ready for Gold Cup day.
(Credit At The Races)