Russell thinks Percy faces tough task

Davy Russell believes Presenting Percy faces a stiff task at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Pat Kelly-trained six-year-old had been one of the favourites for the Pertemps Final after winning at Fairyhouse on Saturday, but he was raised 10lb in the Irish handicap for his win and has also been allotted an extra 6lb in England.

"He's on 146 now, 6lb higher than in Ireland, which is not ideal, obviously," said Russell on At The Races.

"It looks like he's going to carry plenty of weight and I'd be very surprised if he was capable of winning a Pertemps off that sort of weight. That will fairly stall him, I think.

"It can be frustrating (getting different marks in the UK and Ireland) and I don't understand it myself.

"He's still a novice, he's run in three handicaps but now he has to run with 6lb more here, it's quite confusing.

"I just think there are talented horses in Ireland, races are more competitive and it's less competitive in England, you've more meetings and it's unfortunate you have to suffer at a Festival, it doesn't happen on the Flat and English horses don't get penalised in Ireland."