Presenting Percy is on track to light up Gowran Park
once again as he heads a stellar cast of eight entries for a high-class renewal
of the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.
While it will be his first start over fences since his stunning success in the
RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, Pat Kelly’s
star did make a winning return to action with a smooth win in the Grade 2 John
Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at the track last month.
The current ante-post favourite for Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup faces up to
seven rivals at the weekend including Monalee, eight lengths behind him when
runner-up at Cheltenham last March. Monalee would be bidding for his first win
of this season after taking third place at Down Royal in November and then
finishing second to Kemboy in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at the Leopardstown
Christmas Festival.
The Willie Mullins-trained Killultagh Vic is another on course for a rematch
with Presenting Percy. He was only a length and half behind when third in the
Galmoy Hurdle last month and could be joined in Saturday’s race by his stable
companion Bachasson who scored on his only start this season when taking a
conditions hurdle event at Punchestown in late December.
Joseph O'Brien’s Edwulf, a dramatic winner of the 2018 Irish Gold Cup, also
figures among the entries while Gordon Elliott’s Alpha Des Obeaux, who ran an
excellent race when finishing a gallant second to Invitation Only in last
month’s Thyestes Chase, is another interesting contender. Tony Martin’s Anibale
Fly, a fine third in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup before finishing fourth
in the Aintree Grand National the following month, is another high profile name
in the feature race which should attract a large crowd to the County Kilkenny
venue.
In other races, The Red Mills Trial Hurdle has attracted a select field of
seven entries headed by last year’s winner, Forge Meadow, from the Jessica
Harrington yard and she could be taken on by Farclas, winner of the Triumph
Hurdle at Cheltenham last season for Gordon Elliott. Elliott has also entered
the very promising four year old, Couer Sublime, who held every chance when
falling at the last in a Grade 2 Hurdle at Leopardstown in late December.
Joe Connolly, CEO Connolly’s RED MILLS
and Chairman of Gowran Park Racecourse, said: “Red Mills
Day is always a wonderful occasion and we are thrilled with race entries. We’re
looking forward to one of the biggest days of racing that Gowran has seen.
Racegoers can look forward to witnessing some of the best horses in Ireland
have their final run before heading to Cheltenham, it’s going to be very
exciting and I am delighted for the team at Gowran Park.”
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