Venetia Williams: I loved the way L'Homme Presse quickened to the line

Saturday: Cheltenham

Unbeaten chaser L'Homme Presse was posed a difficult question on his first start in Graded company, but once again provided the right answer in the Paddy Power Novices' Chase, registered as the Dipper.

The seven-year-old was favourite for the Grade 2 after making light work of a graduation chase at Ascot last month and picked up exactly where he left off when winning by ten lengths.

He was given a huge cheer as he entered the winner's enclosure and when asked to explain the reception, trainer Venetia Williams said: "I think the fact he was the 7-4 favourite had something to do with it!

"I was really pleased with the way he jumped. He needed to step up from what he did at Ascot last time and I particularly loved the way he quickened up on the way to the line. We always hoped he was going to be a better chaser than hurdler and he's proved that."

1.25 Cheltenham: full result and replay

He has also developed in a relatively short space of time. L'Homme Presse means man in a hurry in French and the first-season chaser has shot through the ranks in three chase starts this season.

After winning on his first start over fences at Exeter last month, he sauntered home by 13 lengths at Ascot and this victory over The Glancing Queen took his combined winning distance to 29 lengths.

"He's just a good horse," said Charlie Deutsch after recording his fourth Graded success of the season for Williams. "He would win on any ground. He has a lovely, big, open stride and is a joy to ride.

"It took us a bit of time to warm up. I was asking him off a stride but he came out of my hands at one and I gave him a squeeze and he started getting more confident, then he winged all the last three."

The new year has thrown up a fresh British hope for the Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as he was cut to 10-1 (from 16) by Paddy Power in a market headed by Bob Olinger.

L'Homme Presse (right): clears the last on the way to Dipper winCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The festival appears to be on the agenda, and Williams added: "We wanted to give him his first experience of the track. He'll need a bit of a break, though, and races don't come up for him every day."

Since moving to Cheltenham in the mid-2000s, the Dipper has been contested by a number of top novice chasers, including Champ, Protektorat, Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation, who won in 2019.

And the significance of L'Homme Presse's victory was certainly not wasted on his co-owner Andy Edwards, who said: "There's no point having a horse and not being enthusiastic. You have to enjoy the good moments like these as there are so many difficult ones as an owner. You have to scream the roof down when they win like this."

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