Presenting Percy to go back over hurdles in Gold Cup warm-up

Presenting Percy is set to warm up for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup with a run over hurdles.

The 2018 RSA Chase winner and last year's beaten Gold Cup favourite has been earmarked for next month's John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle, which he has won for the last two seasons.

Owner Philip Reynolds, who was disappointed Presenting Percy was not involved in the finish of the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, all but ruled out a return to the Foxrock venue for Pat Kelly’s stable star because of the likely ground conditions in the Irish Gold Cup.

He said: “The Galmoy is the week before Leopardstown so we'll keep an eye on the forecast but, unless Leopardstown are taking heed of what Willie Mullins and Noel Meade have said about the ground, it's highly likely it will be too quick for us there.”

Presenting Percy: a two-time winner of the Galmoy HurdleCredit: Caroline Norris

Presenting Percy, who was found to be lame after disappointing in the Gold Cup, would become the only horse to win three Galmoy Hurdles if successful on February 15.

Reynolds added: “I've had a chat with Pat [Kelly] and we're going to give Presenting Percy an entry in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park as well as the Irish Gold Cup.

"At this point, the Galmoy would look the likelier option. Eddie Scally and the team at Gowran do a great job and the ground is always safe. Gowran have taken to Presenting Percy over the past couple of seasons as well – it's almost like his second home!

“It would be nice to have a crack at winning the Galmoy for a third year on the trot and Eimear Mulhern [chairman at Goffs and wife of the late John Mulhern] is a great sponsor down there, so we'll enjoy it regardless.”

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news