L’Homme Presse warming up for King George test

The Venetia Williams-trained nine-year-old unseated Charlie Deutsch at the final jump in the 2022 King George but made a triumphant return in January at Lingfield in the Fleur De Lys Chase.

He was then runner-up in the Ascot Chase before performing with enormous credit when fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Kempton is now likely to be the next step before a defence of his Fleur De Lys crown in the New Year for the first time at Windsor.

“He’s very well in himself and I think we will go to Kempton if the ground is no better than good to soft,” said Peter Pink, who along with wife Patricia, owns the horse in partnership with Andy Edwards and Pam Sharman.

“The trouble is when you are a Group One horse, there aren’t many options over here in this country before Christmas. He won’t be ready for Haydock and Venetia is getting him ready for the King George which is going to be a hot race I think.

“We’ve had a couple of little injuries and he had a little bit of colic, but he is fine now and Venetia said she will have him spot on and at the moment he is in good form.

“We’ll probably look at the Fleur Du Lys again as well and will probably go there anyway. Touch wood we get lucky and don’t get any injuries or any setbacks.

“Andy (Edwards) goes over there all the time to see him and give him his carrots and he’s well and he looks big. He’s not got many miles on the clock and Venetia has done a great job and Andy feeds him plenty of carrots – what more could you want!”

“The ground will be a big thing but hopefully we will get some rain. If it is good ground we may not run him, but if the ground is on the soft side you have got to have a go at it.

“It’s going to be a tough race, but if the ground is good to soft and he goes there in good form then hopefully we will have an outside chance.”