‘PERCY’ AIMING FOR MORE FESTIVAL GLORY IN RSA

PRESENTING PERCY will bid to land a second successive Cheltenham Festival victory for owner Philip Reynolds in tomorrow’s RSA Novices’ Chase.

Last year’s Pertemps hero features in a field of 10 in the Grade One contest which has been won in recent times by subsequent Gold Cup winners Denman, Lord Windermere and Bobs Worth.

The Patrick Kelly-trained seven-yearold has this season won two out of his four starts over fences and also hit the target in a Grade Two hurdle at Gowran on his penultimate outing.

Monalee, from the yard of Henry de Bromhead, will renew rivalry with Al Boum Photo after the pair finished first and second in a Grade One at Leopardstown last time. Al Boum Photo’s trainer Willie Mullins also saddles Bonbon Au Miel.

Ballyoptic will bid to follow up his success in a Grade Two at Wetherby last time out and give trainer Nigel TwistonDavies his third victory in the race.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Black Corton will bid for a ninth win over fences, while Elegant Escape will fly the flag for trainer Colin Tizzard. Completing the field is Allysson Monterg (Richard Hobson), Dounikos (Gordon Elliott), and Full Irish (Emma Lavelle).

Leading Triumph Hurdle hope We Have A Dream is “unlikely” to run in Friday’s opener, his trainer Nicky Henderson reported last night.