1st Presenting Percy 11/1
2nd Barney Dwan 16/1
3rd Jury Duty 9/1
4th The Tourad Man 66/1
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Race Report
Presenting Percy defied a big weight to run out a convincing winner of the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle for Patrick Kelly and Davy Russell, who were winning the race for the second year in succession.
Successful with Mall Dini 12 months ago, connections went on record prior to the Festival stating that the British handicapper had over-estimated Presenting Percy with an official BHA rating of 146, but the six-year-old, who qualified by landing the Fairyhouse qualifier late last month, won by three and three-quarter lengths from Barney Dwan.
The well-backed, Gordon Elliott-trained Jury Duty was back in third with Alan King's The Tourad Man running a gallant race in fourth.
Russell, an absolute master at judging the pace in a big-field Cheltenham handicap, held the 11/1 winner up near the back of the field as Splash Of Ginge and Arctic Gold cut out much of the early running.
He made a striking move through the field coming down the hill and took it up from Barney Dwan on the long run between the final two flights.
There was no chance of Presenting Percy being caught and a decent jump at the last sealed back-to-back wins for connections.
Sutton Manor was another Elliott runner to perform well back in fifth, while Electric Concorde ran on all too late from the back in sixth.
The big disappointment of the race was 8/1 favourite Impulsive Star, who weakened out of it up the hill having seemingly held every chance under Sam Waley-Cohen.
Reaction
Russell said of the three-and-three-quarter-length winner: "To be honest the credit has to go to Pat Kelly, he's a master and he improved for the better ground and I'd like to apologise to Phil Smith (BHA handicapper), maybe he was right (to give him more weight that his official Irish rating).
"Probably 99 times out of 100 the handicapper does a good job, but I thought he'd been a bit harsh on him. Pat has obviously found improvement in him.
"I rode my luck a bit and jumped him off at the back, but he settled lovely and it all went well. I've been to a lot of sporting occasions, but this is the ultimate."
Kelly said: "Sure enough, he is a very good horse. He is a horse going places and I'm looking forward to going chasing next year. Davy Russell was brilliant, he was out the back with him and gave him a chance and he came through to finish well.
"I'm very lucky to have a nice horse and a good owner that gives me a free hold on what to do with him to help him improve. He will keep improving. He won't run again this season. We will mind him for next year."
Winning owner Philip Reynolds said: "We were here this time last year and it was a dream come true, I can't believe we've done it again.
"Pat Kelly is unbelievable, he has a 100 per cent strike-rate here
"I gave my wife a present of this horse this time last year, hoping she could have as much fun as me. Davy is unbelievable around here, a master.
"We were very disappointed when the handicapper here gave us an extra 6lb after his win at Fairyhouse, we had to run that day and win to make sure we got in. I wasn't sure we needed another six, but maybe Phil is right."
Barney Dwan's trainer Fergal O'Brien said: "I thought we were going to win at the second-last, but then I spotted the winner going very well.
"I kind of knew our goose was cooked at that stage, but we have no regrets. I think you could have run the race 20 times and we'd never beat the winner.
"Paddy (Brennan) has given our horse a fantastic ride, both of them put their hearts and souls into it and left it all out on the track.
"We'll look at Aintree and Punchestown."
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