Don't give up on L'Homme Presse and my top tips for Carlisle

It’s been a weekend with plenty of racing and some exciting contests, though the main topic of conversation through the prism of my social media at least appeared to be L’Homme Presse and whether he can still be considered a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender after he was beaten in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Returning to a right-handed track was always going to inhibit his performance given his tendency to jump out to his left, as he showed in the 2022 King George at Kempton as well as on his previous visit to Ascot back in 2021. I also think it’s a fair assumption to make that this trip is short of his best while main market rival Pic D’Orhy virtually had his optimum conditions. 

Charlie Deutsch received critique from many for allowing Harry Cobden – who was again in inspired form – to poach an early lead from the start. Yet if you watch the race back it’s clear to see that Deutsch was having to drive L’Homme Presse to the first fence and was moving his hands on the neck for the entirety of the contest. I honestly believe that the combination were in as close to top gear as possible. The jumping deteriorated as the race tempo increased and L’Homme Presse started to shorten up into fences, possibly due to a loss of rhythm and cohesion between a horse wanting to jump to his left and a rider trying to combat that and minimise forfeited ground. 

Don’t for a moment think that Venetia Williams and her team believed that this test was going to see him at his best and I think it’s highly likely that they were mindful of the benefit of another run before Cheltenham. Time will tell if their approach is right. 

In conclusion, this performance hasn’t diminished my opinion of L’Homme Presse and the subsequent drift in the market actually makes him more appealing for the Gold Cup, even if I personally think that there are two stronger candidates in the line-up. 

I do wonder though - given he’s now looked lazy in the early stages of both starts this season - whether connections might at least have a discussion around the fitting of cheekpieces? 

Sean Bowen will travel to Carlisle for two good rides, aware that he has two free hits to claw back the two winners he’s dropped behind Harry Cobden in the jockeys’ championship race. The title leader has the Monday off (possibly appearing at a West-Country cattle market). 

Bowen’s first ride is Fiston De Becon and the Olly Murphy-trained gelding has run with credit in two chase starts this season, firstly at Newbury when finishing fourth and then at Uttoxeter last time when booked for a solid second only to be hampered by a faller at the last and causing him to unseat Bowen.

Fiston De Becon jumps soundly and the form of his Newbury run looks strong in the context of this race. He was beaten 12 lengths in receipt of 11lb, but the winner Etalon is my view a graded chaser in the making.

Both career wins have come on soft ground and this mark of 110 – 2lb below his starting mark over fences – is identical to the one which he won off over hurdles in March last year. 

I’m keen to take on the front three in the market here. 

Shighness looked good against her own sex last time but might find this a step too far from a 4lb-higher mark back against the boys, Jet Legs has run consistently well this season but has managed just one win and is 4lb higher than his last winning mark, while Houston Texas has been dropped 4lb for his pulled-up effort last time but that was after a 10lb hike for winning what has proved a moderate course contest in November. 

Like the top three here, East Street is also on a climbing mark but he did get a 1lb back from the handicapper after running abysmally at Haydock last time in an effort that was too bad to be true. 

He can often jump sloppily but Carlisle - with many of its fences facing uphill - can often help a horse jump and prior to his Haydock run he stayed on powerfully to win at Wetherby over three mile and followed that with a strong second place at Newcastle, where he again finished to good effect.

This stiff track and the fitting of first-time blinkers might well see him improve again and Peter Kavanagh is excellent value for his 3lb claim.

The Micky Hammond-trained Fainche caught not only my eye but that of the stewards when running home strongly at Wetherby last time.

She was given plenty to do by Emma Smith-Chaston, but the officials accepted the rider’s explanation that the mare persistently hung right which compromised her ability to fully ride her forward. To that end, a switch to this right-handed track should suit her perfectly. 

Fainche finished just under three lengths behind Tune In A Box and that winner only failed by the shortest of margins in his follow-up bid off a 7lb-higher mark next time. He’s now rated 10lb higher than when winning at Wetherby. 

Fainche is up just 3lb and that would look to be an entirely workable mark while Emma Smith-Chatson retains the ride, which is a positive on a mare that clearly takes some knowing.

The one concern would be the quiet form of trainer Micky Hammond, who has a 5 per cent strike-rate over the last two weeks, but he did have a purple patch throughout late December and early January so it’s possible he now has a string of highly-handicapped horses.