Monalee and Anibale Fly set to take on Presenting Percy in Red Mills Chase

Monalee, who was beaten seven lengths when second to Presenting Percy in the RSA Chase last season, is set to take on the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite again in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.

Last year's Gold Cup third Anibale Fly is also an intended runner in what is shaping up to be a red-hot contest.

A Grade 1 winner over 2m5f at Leopardstown last season, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monalee was second to Kemboy in the Savills Chase on his most recent start.

Monalee is an 8-1 shot for the Ryanair Chase and as big as 33-1 for the Gold Cup and De Bromhead said: "Monalee was declared to run in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month, but we took him out as we thought the ground was too quick.

"He seems in good form and the plan is to run him in the Red Mills as we’re keen to get a run into him before Cheltenham."

Anibale Fly: a fascinating runner at Gowran ParkCredit: Caroline Norris

Anibale Fly's trainer Tony Martin said: "The plan is to send him to Gowran. Because of the very dry winter we've had we had to be patient and he missed a few targets because the ground was too quick.

"Conditions look like being perfectly safe on Saturday and it's all systems go."

Anibale Fly was having his first run since finishing fourth in the Randox Health Grand National when he was sixth in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase over two miles at Cork in December.

"The extra half mile on Saturday should make a big difference to him. He ran very well in the Gold Cup last year and we'll try and get him back there again next month," said Martin.

Straight to the Ryanair for Balko

Balko Des Flos, winner of the Ryanair Chase last year, will not run again before bidding for back-to-back wins next month.

Balko Des Flos: will aim for back-to-back wins in the Ryanair Chase next monthCredit: Patrick McCann

Balko Des Flos finished only ninth in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December and De Bromhead said: "He’s a horse who has run well fresh in the past and not running him between Christmas and Cheltenham worked out well for us last season."

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