THERE was some buzz around Presenting Percy at Gowran Park on Thursday. There always is a buzz around this day, Goffs Thyestes Chase day is a special day at Gowran Park, but Presenting Percy provided an extra catalyst on Thursday.

Philip Reynolds’ horse had been there before. It wasn’t the first time that he went to Gowran Park and won the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle. And he created a buzz last year too. But this year was different. He had three runs under his belt for the season before last year’s renewal. This year, we hadn’t seen him race in 10 months. The anticipation was palpable.

And he wasn’t Gold Cup favourite last year. This year’s renewal of the Galmoy Hurdle was a deeper one than last year’s, and his main rivals had a race-fitness edge over the Sir Percy gelding, but it didn’t matter. Pat Kelly had him primed and Davy Russell allowed him coast. He only won by just over a length, but he pricked his ears on the run-in. He probably had more in hand than the mere winning margin.

Presenting Percy will probably improve for Thursday’s run, his seasonal debut, his first run since he won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last March. He is only seven and he has run in just five chases in his life. He is probably still progressing as a staying chaser.

Bookmakers cut his odds from 4/1 to 3/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. What else could they have done?