Talking Horses: To keep Gold Cup dream alive, L’Homme Presse must deliver at Ascot
QUICK RETURN: L’Homme Presse, right, defied a long lay-off to make a winning return to action at Lingfield last month. His supporters will hope that the dreaded bounce factor doesn't stop him following up at Ascot. Picture: Healy Racing
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.
