Presenting Percy and Jack Kennedy clear the last© Photo Healy Racing
Presenting Percy powered away in the closing stages to run out an impressive winner of the Listed Boomerang.ie Chase at Thurles this afternoon.
The two-mile-six feature saw three Grade One winners do battle and it was Philip Reynolds' gelding who bounced back to winning ways on his second outing since joining Gordon Elliott. Monalee took them along with a keen running Kemboy chasing him and the eventual winner travelling sweetly in third for most of the journey.
A mistake by Kemboy four out saw Presenting Percy move up a place but the main trio were almost in a line jumping the second last.
Jack Kennedy soon asked his mount to take the lead as Kemboy gave chase with Monalee crying enough.
Presenting Percy was a couple of lengths in front down to the last, where Kemboy was untidy again, and the 2018 RSA winner stretched away on the run to the line to post a cosy six-and-a-half length winning margin.
The winner was recording his first victory since landing the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January 2019.
Kennedy said afterwards:- "He did it very well, he had race-fitness on his side but he put in an exhibition of jumping and quickened up well at the back of the second last.
"I had sat on him previously at home but he is very straightforward and is a dream to ride.
“He jumps and travels away and I was happy at all stages. I was delighted with the way he travelled and I was nearly half taking him back going across the top I was going that easy.
"That win might do him the world of good and hopefully he can keep going after that."
Paul Townend said of runner-up Kemboy: "He made a mistake at the last fence up the back and that came at the wrong time for him. He had a good blow and I thought he ran okay."
Patrick Mullins added:- "I thought at least he travelled well, in the main he jumped very well and got tired from the back of the last, which I wasn't surprised at. I thought it was satisfactory, he'll need to improve but he should."
Paddy Power were impressed, cutting Presenting Percy from 33/1 into 16/1 for the Gold Cup. They make him a 20/1 shot (from 33/1) for the Grand National.
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
