Reynolds: Percy outjumped Kemboy last time and can turn form around on Sunday

Presenting Percy's jumping was better than Kemboy's the last time they met according to owner Philip Reynolds, who has faith his star can upset the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup favourite at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Reynolds came away from Leopardstown a deflated man when Presenting Percy, winner of the 2018 RSA Chase, could manage only fifth behind Delta Work in the Savills Chase last month, one place behind Kemboy.

However, he drew encouragement from Presenting Percy's jumping and believes it could be a different story in the Dublin Racing Festival showpiece.

Asked about the nine-year-old's prospects on Sunday, for which he is 7-2 with the sponsors, Reynolds said: "Of course we can win – I thought fence for fence in the Savills our jumping was better than Kemboy's.

"In saying that, Kemboy is a course specialist and the dead three miles is probably the minimum Percy needs."

The owner added: "He was beaten four lengths and finished a close fifth [in the Savills] and I expect him to be more competitive this time. Whatever beats him is going to win on Sunday."

A bunch finish to last month's Savills Chase in which Presenting Percy (green silks) finished a place behind Kemboy (blue)Credit: Patrick McCann

Presenting Percy is generally held up in his races, but Reynolds hinted at a change of tactics under Davy Russell.

He said: "We might ride him slightly differently. I genuinely expect him to be more competitive than in the Savills."

Along with his trainer Pat Kelly, Reynolds decided to bypass last week's Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in preference for the Irish Gold Cup, which, according to the owner, will be a better preparation for the Gold Cup itself.

Reynolds, who was speaking to Paddy Power, explained: "It's pretty straightforward really – I’d have loved to have had a crack at the Galmoy Hurdle hat-trick, but I'm not sure we'd have been successful as the mare [Benie Des Dieux] was very impressive.

"This horse is hopefully heading to the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13 and there's no point jumping the small ones when you're going to be jumping the big ones."

He added: "Also, once Leopardstown decided to turn the taps on there was no reason not to go and we'll be eyeing up the same horses in a few weeks' time so we might as well have a crack at them now."

Reynolds went on to lament Presenting Percy's unorthodox preparation for last season's Gold Cup, for which he was sent off favourite but could only muster up a midfield finish and was found to be lame post-race.

Revisiting that disappointing effort, Reynolds said: "I've watched that race every Friday night for the last 12 months and that's after the pub as I couldn't face it before! It was a nothing race, for us at least, and again my immediate reaction was huge disappointment.

"I've never seen him jump as badly and I didn't understand and couldn't figure it out. The only thing was he hadn't had a run over fences before that and everyone was right and I was wrong. I wish we'd run in a chase earlier when the ground was right for him."

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