08 December 2023 , 21:31
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L’Homme Presse, off the track since his final-fence departure in the King George VI Chase last Christmas, will not seek atonement at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old, who was sent off the 9-4 favourite for the three-mile jumps Classic, was three lengths adrift of winner Bravemansgame when unseating Charlie Deutsch at the last of the 18 obstacles.
L’Homme Presse is 10-1 with sponsors Ladbrokes but will instead make his keenly awaited return to the fray in January.
“I saw him this week and talked to Venetia, and we have decided not to go to Kempton,” said Andy Edwards, who races the gelding under his DFA Racing banner. “He hurt himself in last year’s race – he took time to get over it and we have given him plenty of time.
“He’s ready to run but it’s a tall order to go for a race like the King George – if you were a footballer, you wouldn’t go straight into 90 minutes in a big game. He will come back in January. There is a £100,000 handicap chase over two miles and five at Ascot or there is the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park, and that’s what we will look at.”
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L’Homme Presse’s time on the sidelines meant he was ruled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup last spring, but the National Hunt Festival’s signature contest on March 15 is very much on the agenda this season.
“All things being well with him, the Gold Cup will be the plan,” added Edwards.