The Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse has emerged as a potential target for Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy after connections elected to sidestep Saturday’s Red Mills at Gowran Park.

Having won his second Galmoy Hurdle at the County Kilkenny circuit last month, Pat Kelly’s stable star was due to return to fences for a race in which he was narrowly denied by the ill-fated Our Duke 12 months ago.

The dual Cheltenham Festival winner was not among the declarations on Friday, but owner Philip Reynolds insists his pride and joy is in rude health. “All is good with Percy. He schooled this morning, and there no problems. Pat and myself had a good chat about it, and he is just happy with where he is and didn’t feel we needed to run him this weekend. We’re keeping the faith and staying positive.”

Presenting Percy will be given the option of running in the Bobbyjo Chase on February 23th. However, Reynolds is not ruling out the possibility of heading straight to Cheltenham with his charge – in which case he will run in the Gold Cup having not jumped a fence in public since his impressive display in the RSA Chase at Prestbury Park last March.

He added: “We’re going to give him an entry in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. Pat is in no rush with him, and if we decide to go straight to Cheltenham then so be it.”

Following his Galmoy Hurdle success, there were suggestions Presenting Percy could switch to a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – should he not run over fences in the meantime.

But when asked whether the Stayers’ Hurdle could be a serious option, Reynolds said: “That is not the plan. The plan remains as it was, and that is to run at Cheltenham (in the Gold Cup) on March 15th.”

Presenting Percy's absence from Gowran Park on Saturday leaves just four horses in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase. They are Edwulf, Monalee, Anibale Fly and Killultagh Vic.

MONALEE HOPES

Monalee is bidding to open his account for the campaign ahead of a likely return to Cheltenham.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge has filled the runner-up spot on each of his two previous appearances at Prestbury Park, chasing home Penhill in the 2017 Albert Bartlett before finishing seven lengths behind the impressive Presenting Percy in last season’s RSA Chase.

The trainer said ahead of the two-and-a-half-mile affair: “We need to get a run into Monalee and the Red Mills Chase looks like a good opportunity to do that. I’m not sure what the race will tell us in regards to future plans, but I hope the trip on Saturday should be ideal for him.”

Monalee was last seen finishing second behind the impressive Kemboy in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December and is entered in the Ryanair Chase – as well as the Gold Cup – at the Festival next month.

“We didn’t run him at Leopardstown (in the Irish Gold Cup) because of the ground, but thankfully we’ve had a bit more rain down the country and the ground at Gowran should be fine. Monalee seems in good form and he needs a run. Any option after this weekend was just getting a little close to Cheltenham so we look forward to getting him back out. Gowran Park has been a lucky track for us down through the years.”

Locally-based Willie Mullins has claimed this prize twice in the last four years with Champagne Fever (2015) and Ballycasey (2017).

This season the champion trainer relies on Killultagh Vic, who switches back to fences after finishing a close-up third behind Presenting Percy in the Galmoy Hurdle.

“We have run him twice over hurdles this season and he had a very good run in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park last month,” said Mullins. "We have decided to let him take his chance back over fences as he is suited by the conditions of the race, but it is going to be a tough contest for him at this trip – which is short of his best distance.

“But it is our local track and it is nice ground so we we’ll see how he jumps back over fences and see where we go then.”

The other two runners both carry the colours of J.P. McManus.

Last year’s Irish Gold Cup hero Edwulf has plenty to prove after finishing down the field on each of his two starts so far this season.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien said: “Edwulf takes his chance on Saturday with the ground appearing suitable for him. “We’ve given him an entry in the Grand National at Aintree, but that is only an option at the moment and Saturday might tell us a bit more about where we are going for the rest of the season. He’s in good form.”

Tony Martin’s Anibale Fly was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and fourth in the Grand National at Aintree last spring.

He has raced just once since, however, finishing sixth in the Hilly Way Chase over an inadequate two miles at Cork in December. “We’ve had to be patient with the ground, but it looks like it should be plenty safe for him in Gowran. It’s all systems go,” said Martin.

“He ran in the Hilly Way at Cork and it was a nice run, but the extra half-mile should make a big difference to him and be a help. It’s important to get a run into him before Cheltenham and we were running out of options.

“He’s a top-class horse and what he did in Cheltenham in the Gold Cup last year was a great performance, so hopefully we can try to get him back there again next month.”

READ THE JOSEPH O'BRIEN STABLE TOUR IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND