Charlie Deutsch highlights reason for L'Homme Presse's 'unsure' Kempton jumping

The sun may have played a part in King George VI Chase favourite L'Homme Presse jumping left in the Kempton showpiece, according to his rider Charlie Deutsch.

He was aboard the Venetia Williams-trained runner for Peter Pink and Andy Edwards, but the pair were separated when L'Homme Presse pecked on landing and unseated the jockey after the last.

Before then, he had edged to his left, which caused a few issues for Harry Cobden, whose mount Bravemansgame went on to win the prestigious Grade 1.

Deutsch does not think L'Homme Presse, the 9-4 favourite, would have won and said: "He put up a really good performance and what happened, happened. It was unfortunate and it felt like we were held for second.

"A lot of it [jumping left] was down the back straight and he has done it before. It was more extreme down the back straight and the sun wasn't great; I had to squint. I think he was a bit unsure of himself because of the sun, but that's only my opinion."

Bravemansgame's trainer Paul Nicholls hinted that the sun had been a problem during Kempton's Kauto Star Novices' Chase, in which his 7-4 favourite McFabulous was beaten 15 lengths into second, saying: "I think they all had a problem with the sun there down the back from what they were all saying, Harry [Cobden] said he wasn't really confident jumping."

L'Homme Presse: still in the Gold Cup conversationCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Herefordshire-based Williams remains coy on what might be next for L'Homme Presse, who remains a general 7-1 second favourite behind Galopin Des Champs for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The trainer, whose Royale Pagaille took advantage of his stablemate's error to claim second in the King George, said: "There are no plans at the minute. I learned a lesson many years ago the only time I previously won the King George [with Teeton Mill in 1998], and thought of the only race I could think of at the time and then it didn't happen.

"There were monumental rumours and nasty words, but we haven't discussed plans for L'Homme Presse so I'm not going to elaborate. He's fine though."

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