Presenting Percy switched to Gordon Elliott

Owner Philip Reynolds with Presenting Percy after winning the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2017. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Owner Philip Reynolds has confirmed his star chaser Presenting Percy will be trained by Gordon Elliott this season, after being moved from Pat Kelly’s yard.

The nine-year-old is a dual Cheltenham Festival winner, having supplemented his victory in the 2017 Pertemps Final with a brilliant display in the 2018 RSA Chase that saw him move to the head of ante-post lists for the following year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

However, Presenting Percy raced just once prior to his bid for Gold Cup glory — winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park — and finished a disappointing eighth in the blue riband, after which he was diagnosed with a back problem.

He ran four times without winning last term — most recently falling two fences from home in the Gold Cup — and Reynolds feels the time has come to move Presenting Percy and the other seven horses he had in training with Kelly to other yards.

“It has been a very difficult decision, but now is the right time for a change,” said Reynolds. “Pat and I remain friends and I will be forever grateful to him.

“The horses will go to a few guys who already train for me, with Presenting Percy joining Gordon’s team.”