L’Homme Presse set to take Denman Chase route to Cheltenham

Newbury’s William Hill Denman Chase is the preferred stopping point en route to the Cheltenham Gold Cup for L’Homme Presse after his brave effort in defence of his Cotswold Chase crown last weekend.

Venetia Williams’ 11-year-old was attempting to concede 6lb to eventual winner Spillane’s Tower at Prestbury Park, and although that burden ultimately told with the Irish raider registering a three-quarter-length verdict, connections were left feeling elated with their horse of a lifetime.

“At 11 to turn up and do something like that, you are full of so much pride and emotion,” said Andy Edwards, who owns the horse under the DFA Racing banner in partnership with Pam Sharman, Ray Sharman and Peter and Patricia Pink.

“We were stood there at the second pole after the race and I mentioned to the groom there were still loads of people cheering us even though the winner was there, he’s a really popular lad isn’t he?

“He is a special horse and special horses do special things to people, which is the most wonderful thing about a life with horses.

“He’s absolutely fine after the race and I was in the field with him the other day and he was rolling around in the mud having fun. It will just be an easy week this week after such a magnificent race and he wasn’t blowing overly hard afterwards.”

L’Homme Presse holds an entry for Haydock’s William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase on February 14, but providing the in-form veteran continues to thrive following his Trials day exertions, he will head to Newbury a week earlier for a race Williams won 12 months ago with Djelo.

It is a move which represents a deviation to the Ascot Chase path L’Homme Presse has taken in the previous two seasons, with Edwards and his fellow owners relishing another crack at the blue riband in March with their Cheltenham specialist, who tasted Festival success in 2022 before finishing fourth in the Gold Cup 24 months later.

“Haydock will be plan B, but ideally we will go to the Denman Chase then the Gold Cup as long as he is all right,” continued Edwards. “Obviously we’re not going to know that fully until the weekend when he does a bit more work.

“We’re not expecting to win the Gold Cup and it will be more hoping – you have to be realistic. But if he could get into the first five in the Gold Cup, that would be fantastic and we still don’t know what will even get there. Cheltenham is still a fair way away in a horse’s life.”