Edwards eager to unleash ‘superstar’ L’Homme Presse

Part-owner Andy Edwards is under no illusions about the task facing his returning “superstar” L’Homme Presse in the Turners Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

The Venetia Williams-trained 10-year-old has won eight of his 14 starts over fences, a record which includes three victories at Prestbury Park.

However, he has been off the track since being pulled up in the Ascot Chase in February and must concede over a stone in weight to each of his rivals in Friday’s £100,000 feature over an extended three and a quarter miles.

Edwards, who owns the horse under the DFA Racing banner in partnership with Pam Edwards and Peter and Pat Pink, said: “There’s no nerves my end, although Pam is on the ceiling as she always is!

“I’m looking forward to it immensely. It’s been a long time since he’s been out.

“He had a little operation in April – he had a screw put in his cannon bone. Something had come to light and that was obviously what was playing up at Ascot and possibly the start of it was when he won the Cotswold Chase.

“It’s 11 months since the Cotswold Chase, which is a long time, but he’s done it before and he’s our superstar and he always will be.”

L’Homme Presse has performed well fresh in the past, most notably making a triumphant return from over a year on the sidelines in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield in January 2024.

He also finished third in the King George VI Chase on his first start of last season, but Edwards feels he has more on his plate at Cheltenham.

“You shouldn’t have any expectations really apart from running well and doing his best. It’s a tough race, running in a handicap over that trip first time out, but he normally runs well first time out and all I can say is he is very well,” he continued.

“I was with him in the field on Wednesday, he’s fairly relaxed and ready to go.

“He always goes well first time out, but obviously this is the Gold Cup trip on the Gold Cup course, which is a bit different to running around the flat track at Kempton, as hard as the King George is.

“He’s in good form and like all racehorse owners we’re always very hopeful. We just want him to have a good time and hopefully do himself justice really.”

L’Homme Presse will carry 12 stone in the hands of Charlie Deutsch, with Ben Pauling’s Sodexo Gold Cup winner Henry’s Friend next on the list with 10st 12lb.

Other contenders include Alan King’s The Doyen Chief, who makes a quick reappearance after missing the start in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury a fortnight ago, and the David Pipe-trained King Turgeon, winner of this valuable contest 12 months ago and sixth in the Grand Sefton at Aintree on his seasonal bow.

Pipe said: “He’s in good shape and we missed the Becher Chase last Saturday to run here.

“It’s a smallish field and he ran well at Aintree (in the Grand Sefton). He was probably just a little bit outpaced and the extra distance will suit.

“He’s a bit higher in the weights than last year, but he’s still young and hopefully improving.”