HEREFORDSHIRE Gold Cup hope L’Homme Presse gave his best in last week’s Cheltenham Festival highlight but the Kings Caple based horse could only finish a gallant fourth place behind impressive winner Galopin Des Champs.
Jockey Charlie Deutsch had the Venetia Willliams trained L’Homme Presse at the head of affairs early and was always travelling well, taking the lead at the fourth last fence and Deutsch was going well enough to look around at his rivals at the second last fence but it was there that the nine year old began to send out distress signals and tired.
L’Homme Presse finished an honourable fourth and Deutsch said after the race: “I really enjoyed that, he’s jumped brilliantly.
“I felt I had a good position was in a good rhythm and saw Paul (Townend on the eventual winner) on my outside, so was pretty happy where I was.
“He’s just got tired jumping the last and coming up the hill, he’s run well – first time I’ve ridden him on ground that tacky.”
Potentially next seasons RyanAir Chase at the Festival, over half a mile shorter, could be his aim whilst another attempt at the King George VI Chase at the tighter Kempton track over three miles could also be on the possible agenda.
Earlier in the meeting Byton trainer Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion had also run prominently in the Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle race but found the quality of the opposition to strong and finished sixth behind impressive Irish favourite State Man.
Hereford Racecourse hold their Spring Afternoon Racing meeting on Wednesday, March 27, with gates open from 12.40pm for a first race at 2.40pm.
The meeting is due to have six races with the final race starting at 5.15pm.
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