All roads result in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for L’Homme Presse following a triumphant comeback as he beat Protektorat within the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield.
The nine-year-old claimed Cheltenham’s Brown Advisory as one in all two Grade One novice wins two seasons in the past and kicked off final time period with a advantageous weight-carrying victory within the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.
Nevertheless, he subsequently unseated Charlie Deutsch when seemingly booked for second behind Bravemansgame within the King George VI Chase at Kempton and missed the remainder of the marketing campaign by way of damage.
Regardless of a 391-day absence, L’Homme Presse was the 8/11 favorite to make a profitable return in Lingfield’s Winter Million characteristic and proved his means stays very a lot intact with a two-and-a-quarter-length win over twin Grade One winner Protektorat.
Profitable rider Deustch informed Sky Sports activities Racing: “It is nice. Everybody’s put loads of work into him and it has been a very long time. After the King George, it takes a little bit of getting over and also you’d wish to get again on immediately however you may’t.
“We are delighted and the feel he gave me up the straight was a right good feeling. Horses like that are so rare so you want him to have a good career.”
The 2-and-three-quarter-mile contest was an intriguing watch, with Harry Skelton seemingly eager to benefit from Protektorat’s health edge with an aggressive front-running trip.
The nine-year-old appeared to have L’Homme Presse in bother at one stage, however the latter’s leaping stored him within the struggle because the tempo elevated and he was the one travelling the higher as the massive two straightened up for dwelling.
Protektorat didn’t go down with out a struggle and it was nonetheless all to play for between the ultimate two fences, however L’Homme Presse stamped his class on the run-in to take prime honours with one thing to spare.
Coach Venetia Williams raised the prospect of L’Homme Presse working once more between now and March, with subsequent month’s Ascot Chase – reside on Sky Sports activities Racing – on her radar.
“That’s been on our mind and we want to see how he comes out of this, but there is a possibility of that. Maybe it will be [Ascot], that is one of the races on the shortlist,” she stated.
“We brought him here and he could possibly have run a bit earlier but the races weren’t there. We wanted him to run somewhere where it was an appropriate race and we also had enough time to get him fit.
“I am certain he’ll enhance a bit, however do not anticipate lots of enchancment.”