'He was wildly impressive and is one of the most fluent jumpers around'

'His jumping is most exciting'

It might have been the Dublin Racing Festival, but the best clues for Cheltenham probably came in Britain and L’Homme Presse was wildly impressive in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs are clearly top-class horses from Ireland, but they will have to be at the top of their game to beat L’Homme Presse in the Turners Novices' Chase, if he continues his progress.

Watch L'Homme Presse's impressive victory

It’s not often Grade 1 races are won by 21 lengths hard on the bridle and the most exciting thing about L’Homme Presse is his jumping. He is one of the most fluent jumpers of a fence you will find and he should be well suited by returning to the left-handed Cheltenham.
Graeme Rodway, tipster

Senor's 'dominance was absolute'

This may look rather silly in 24 hours if, and when, Galopin Des Champs beats up his opposition at Leopardstown, but it was hard not to be taken by the performance of Ahoy Senor at Wetherby.

Rated on the performance of Ashtown Lad, Ahoy Senor did not run as well as he did when thumping the same rival, and several others, at Newbury in November.

Ahoy Senor (right): back to winning form at Wetherby on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

However, trainer Lucinda Russell was using the spot as a “confidence booster” for Ahoy Senor after things did not go to plan at Kempton and it would have done just that. His jumping was good, his engine was finely tuned, and his dominance over the opposition was absolute.

Whether or not he is quite enough of the finished article to land the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase I'm not sure, but he is a tremendous talent for this season and, particularly, next.
Peter Scargill, reporter

Wetherby: Cheltenham Ahoy! Lucinda Russell looking to Brown Advisory with star novice

L'Homme 'a good bet for Turners'

Despite the plethora of Grade 1 events in Ireland, my idea of the most significant performance with Cheltenham in mind was L’Homme Presse’s wide-margin win in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices Chase at Sandown.

His jumping was again really good [just a tendency to edge slightly left at his fences, which is unlikely to pose any problems back at Prestbury Park] and he saw off his main market rival Pic D’Orhy in the straight without coming off the bridle.

That took his unbeaten record over fences to four and, given he’s already a winner at Cheltenham with an ability to jump well and travel strongly, he looks a good bet for the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Chase over 2m4f at the festival.
Richard Young, analyst

Scilly Isles: 'I gave it a Superman' - Deutsch delight at first Grade 1 with L'Homme Presse

Read more Saturday reports:

Irish Gold Cup: 'I said he'd win or pull up' - Elliott joy as Conflated shocks Gold Cup rivals

Expert jury: 'He was wildly impressive and is one of the most fluent jumpers around'

Irish Arkle: Blue Lord survives stewards' inquiry to continue Willie Mullins hot streak

Spring Juvenile Hurdle: Vauban vying for Triumph Hurdle favouritism after awesome Spring Juvenile win

Leopardstown: 'It was a fantastic performance' - Minella Cocooner slashed for Albert Bartlett

Sandown: Josh Moore enjoys first success of comeback and rewards punter's £75,000 bet

Wetherby: Cheltenham Ahoy! Lucinda Russell looking to Brown Advisory with star novice

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