It appears the long wait may be over to see the return of Presenting Percy - the current favourite for the Gold Cup, but not as you may think.
Percy - trained by Patrick Kelly, looks set for a spin over hurdles next Thursday at Gowran Park, in the same way he prepared for the RSA at the Cheltenham Festival twelve months ago.
Kelly has confirmed that the ground has not been soft enough this season for the 8yo to make his long-awaited comeback, but he looks set to get his favoured conditions in the Grade Two John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle, which he won in excellent fashion last year.
(Credit: Racing Post) Gowran Racecourse Manager Eddie Scally said: "Our ground is currently yielding, yielding to soft in places. We are expecting rain tomorrow – we could get up to 13mm – and after that the forecast is mixed with more rain likely.
"Presenting Percy is among 18 entries for Thursday's race in which Willie Mullins accounts for seven, his possible runners including Bachasson, Bapaume, Coquin Mans, Limini and Shaneshill, who won the race two years ago.
Presenting Percy also holds an entry in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on the 3rd of February, a contest he is fully expected to sit out.
He is the current 4/1 favourite for the Magners Gold Cup, and along with Jessica Harrington's Sizing John, is the only horse under 40/1 in the current market yet to run this season.