Presenting Percy makes impressive start to chasing career

Pertemps Final winner Presenting Percy made an ultra-impressive start to his chasing career, accounting for dual Grade 2-placed hurdler De Plotting Shed in fine style on student raceday at Galway on Monday.

The Pat Kelly-trained star hacked around and jumped superbly under Davy Russell, easing into contention as they jumped the last two fences – which come in quick succession at the end of the back straight – and then galloped right away from the field around the home turn and up the Galway hill.

The Irish-handicap good thing at this year's Cheltenham Festival, despite being bumped up to a mark of 146 by the British handicappers, Presenting Percy looks sure to be targeted at the festival again this season and it could well be in Grade 1 company given the ease with which he took to fences.

Davy Russell said: "It's a great start for him, but credit to Pat Kelly. He was like a ballerina out there with his jumping."

Kelly himself added: "I'm very happy with that and so was Davy. We'll see where we go from here, he jumped well in a very good race and I would hope that he can do at least as well over fences as he did over hurdles.

"There's plenty there to work with. He's an exciting horse for the future."

Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Free Expression, stablemate and Pertemps fifth Sutton Manor and Mall Dini, the 2016 Pertemps Final winner who is also owned by Philip Reynolds and trained by Kelly, added real depth to an early-season novice contest.

But Presenting Percy was comfortably the best of these on their seasonal debuts, winning by three lengths at 11-4 from 2-1 favourite De Plotting Shed, with a further five lengths back to the race-fit 33-1 shot Champoleon.

Paddy Power reacted by cutting him to 16-1 (from 20) for the RSA Chase at the festival.

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com