BROWN ADVISORY &

MERRIEBELLE STABLE

PLATE (GRADE 3)

WHAT was once a race that Irish-trained horses simply didn’t win went to the raiders for the second year in succession as Noel Meade’s Road To Respect dominated his seasoned rivals. A fifth winner and first over fences at the meeting for Noel Meade, Road To Respect came here off a season that had featured a series of creditable efforts in good novice company. Even so, this switch to handicap company looked to present the Gamut gelding with quite a challenge but he rose to it admirably to give Gigginstown House Stud their second success win in the race.

The race didn’t quite get off to an ideal start as Road To Respect blundered at the first but from there on it was smooth sailing through calm waters. The seven-year-old could be picked out travelling well and jumping boldly on the outer for Bryan Cooper.

The 14/1 chance was pressing for the lead with three to jump and the race was then as good as over when he strode on after the second last. All the way to the line, Road To Respect maintained an unfaltering tempo to prevail by six lengths. The long-time favourite Diamond King was struggling after a bad early blunder and pulled-up after the tenth fence.

“Apart from the first he jumped beautifully, I got a great kick out of that,” declared a very pleased Meade. “He was entered in everything over here and I was quite keen on the RSA but Eddie (O’Leary) kept saying we’d go for this and happily it’s worked out. This isn’t an easy place to win, it’s no easy for anybody and it’s just great to be back amongst the winners here again.

“I’ve always thought quite a bit of this horse and I must say I was disappointed when he got beaten in the Drinmore earlier in the season. I then made a mistake dropping back to two miles and we were happy with his last run at Navan. Clearly he was a well-handicapped horse!”