L'Homme Presse given green light for King George providing ground is right

L'Homme Presse has strengthened in the betting behind Bravemansgame for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase market after connections revealed that they have "every intention of going to Kempton" with their Brown Advisory Novices' Chase winner.

Andy Edwards, who part-owns the 6-1 Gold Cup chance, believes that L'Homme Presse needs another run after making a successful reappearance in the Rehearsal Handicap Chase at Newcastle last month.

The Venetia Williams-trained seven-year-old was beaten only once in six starts over fences last season, when third to Ahoy Senor in the Mildmay Novices' Chase but did finish in front of Bravemansgame, who leads the market for the £250,000 Boxing Day highlight.

"Our intention is to go to the King George, assuming the ground is suitable for him," said Edwards to geegeez.co.uk. "After Newcastle, he really needs to run now, and is ready to go. He is moving very nicely and we are very hopeful we can go.

"You can't just keep working them, that is why we have every intention of going to Kempton, because he is ready to go. He needs to go and he is a Grade 1 horse, so needs to be running in Grade 1 company."

Despite being 3-3 around right-handed tracks over fences, including when winning the first of his two Grade 1s in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, Edwards remains concerned whether the track will suit.

L'Homme Presse: made a winning return in last month's Rehearsal ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "Kempton is not the ideal track for L'Homme Presse because it is so flat and so sharp. The ground is never very deep and that does not play to his strengths."

L'Homme Presse was withdrawn on raceday for his intended comeback run at Ascot last month before going on to win at Newcastle due to the ground being too quick and the dual Grade 1 winner is yet to run on good ground over fences.

There has not been a jumps meeting in Britain since Sunday due to the cold snap but Edwards holds hope that the ground will come right for his star.

"When the snow melts, which it will do on Sunday and Monday, and it will sink into the ground, conditions will be absolutely perfect for Boxing Day," he added. "I have every faith and no doubts that it will be."

Coral's spokesman David Stevens said: "L'Homme Presse has been well backed for the King George in recent days, so punters will welcome the news he is an intended runner on Boxing Day. Given his impressive victory in the Rehearsal Chase, it's far from impossible that he could threaten Bravemansgame's position at the head of the Kempton betting."

Ladbrokes: 13-8 Bravemansgame, 5-2 L'Homme Presse, 3 Hitman, 8 Envoi Allen, 16 Frodon, Eldorado Allen, Protektorat, 20 bar

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