Presenting Percy will bid to boost Gold Cup credentials in John Durkan Chase

Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy is set to make his first appearance of the season in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

The Pat Kelly-trained seven-year-old, a seven-length winner of the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March, is one of 19 acceptors for Sunday’s Grade 1 event and is a general 4-1 shot for the Magners-backed Gold Cup back at Cheltenham in March.

The three-time chase winner also landed the Pertemps Hurdle at the 2017 festival and owner Philip Reynolds is looking forward to his return to action.

“He was back in from his summer break earlier than last year in the hope he would have run before now but the dry ground prevented that happening," Reynolds said.

“Hopefully, they’ll get more rain between now and Sunday and it will be great to see him back on the track but it is a nervous time. He has to go and do it on the track again to show that he can pick up where he left off last season. I hope to God he does.”

Willie Mullins, who has sent out three of the last five winners of the 2m4f event, has seven left in the race including Punchestown Gold Cup winner Bellshill, Al Boum Photo and Kemboy who was ruled out of the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday due to ferry problems.

Bellshill: one of seven entries for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann

Gordon Elliott, who saddled Don Cossack to win the race in 2014, also has seven acceptors including Cheltenham Festival winners The Storyteller and Shattered Love.

The ground at Punchestown on Tuesday was “good, good to yielding in places” on the chase course and "good" on the hurdle course.

Spokesman Richie Galway said: "Our ground is in great shape following rain over the weekend. There is further rain forecast for Wednesday and Thursday and some of it could be heavy."

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