L'Homme Presse - The Forgotten Cheltenham Gold Cup Contender

He may not have been seen on the racecourse for over a year now, but L'Homme Presse should still be considered a contender for this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner, and although the Venetia Williams-trained horse will have to overcome a long absence, he has previously shown enough class to win jump racing's most prestigious race.

A faller at the last fence when last seen in the 2022 King George VI Chase, L'Homme Presse is very lightly raced for his age, and the 9-year-old still has the potential to improve - a fact that will be frightening to his rivals.

Williams Still at the Top of Her Game

"Venetia Williams" (CC BY 2.0) by Paolo Camera

Grand National winning trainer, Venetia Williams is enjoying yet another successful season, expertly placing her horses to win plenty of races around the country. Royal Pagaille, another Gold Cup contender, has been her stable's flagbearer, but there have been plenty of others who have added to her winning tally.

She's had the support of a collection of owners, such as Rich Ricci, the group involved in the Jolly Nellerie race horse owners syndicate, and Sharon Kinsella, the owner of the Grand National hope, Quick Wave. Williams is a trainer who has always been all-inclusive, and syndication, where a group of people can come together to own a horse at a fraction of the price, plays a huge role in the continued success of the Grand National-winning trainer.

L'Homme Presse is the apple of his trainer's eye however, and she would love to see him finally reach the height of his potential at Cheltenham this year.

Already a Festival Winner

L'Homme Presse may only have raced over fences on eight occasions, but six of those appearances have resulted in victories, including the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham last year. That race is run over the same distance as the Gold Cup and has been a great stepping stone for potential winners over the years.

That Cheltenham win showed that L'Homme Presse is turning into a very talented stayer, and has the much-needed stamina that it takes to win the Festival highlight. A horse that wants to win a Gold Cup must possess an equal amount of stamina and class, and Venetia Williams' star certainly does.

Gold Cup Rivals

As discussed, L'Homme Presse's long absence from the racetrack is not ideal, particularly when he has to face some of the best horses in training today. Chief among his rivals is the defending champion, Galopin Des Champs. Last year's winner had struggled slightly after his Cheltenham victory but bounced back to his best at Leopardstown last time out.

One horse that seems to have the defending champ's number is the Gold Cup newcomer, Fastorslow. The youngster has beaten Galopin Des Champs on two occasions now, and the fact that he finished runner-up at the Festival in the Ultima Handicap shows that the Cheltenham track will hold no problems.

Once considered to be the best horse in jump racing, Shishkin is arguably the most interesting runner in this year's Gold Cup. Having gone off the boil over two miles, Nicky Henderson's star has refound his form since being stepped up to three miles. The stamina-sapping test of the Gold Cup is a slight unknown for the two-time Festival winner.