Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1)
ROAD To Respect served a timely reminder of just what he is capable of in the staying division as he made it back-to-back victories in the first Grade 1 of the season, and he did so against a field that was small in number but high on quality.
The five-runner line-up featured last season’s King George hero Clan Des Obeaux and the leading novice chaser Delta Work but neither could match Noel Meade’s charge who looked better than ever on his first outing since April.
In victory the Sean Flanagan-ridden gelding was joining Kauto Star and Beef Or Salmon as the only horses to have won two renewals of the race since it was first run 20 years ago and this was the seventh year in succession that this prize has fallen to Gigginstown House Stud.
Road To Respect with Derville Meade, Sean Flanagan, Damian Gillick, Wendy and Jody O’Leary and Noel Meade \ carolinenorris.ie
Last season
Last season didn’t quite reach the heights it might have for Road To Respect after his victory here but it still featured an excellent third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and that ability to be competitive in a Grade 1 short of three miles stood the 5/2 chance in good stead for this race.
This three-mile race was run at a steady pace with the result that it turned into something of a sprint for home over the final three fences. From before two out, Road To Respect and Clan Des Obeaux separated themselves from the remainder and Meade’s horse was just too strong for the English raider on the run-in.
He prevailed by four lengths, with Alpha Des Obeaux 10 lengths back in third with Delta Work, whose jumping got somewhat ragged over the last mile, a further length and a quarter away.
Heavier
“I weigh him every week and I got the fright of my life this morning as he is 19kg heavier than he was this day last year. He has obviously matured a lot,” said a delighted Meade.
“I was worried about whether enough rain had come for him today.
“He wants soft ground and he’s a big heavy horse who was shouldery after he ran at Leopardstown in the spring when the ground was too quick for him, that’s why he wasn’t jumping or letting himself go afterwards.
“He’s in the King George but I’ll talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) about plans. If we can keep him in that sort of shape on that sort of ground I think he is a contender wherever he goes,” added Meade.
This victory was one to savour for Sean Flanagan, who only returned to the saddle two days previously after being concussed in a fall at Downpatrick last month, and he said: “He felt super. He jumped better today than he’s ever done and the easy ground suited him well.
“He’s a horse with loads of pace so I wasn’t too bothered that we weren’t going too quick.
“It was just a bit quick for him at Leopardstown on a couple of occasions last season. We could have a different result back there this time if we got slower ground.”
ENVOI Allen’s jumping career couldn’t have gotten off to a better start than the one last season’s star bumper horse enjoyed in the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott’s belief that his imposing charge would come into his own when he got to tackle obstacles looks set to be borne out in style after a display that bore more than a hint of star quality.
Davy Russell (right) with Gordon Elliott and Seainin Mahon after winning with Envoi Allen \ Healy Racing
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned five-year-old hurdled especially well from the front for Davy Russell and with his customary understated authority Envoi Allen (1/4) dismissed his rivals. He came home six and a half lengths clear of the Punchestown Festival bumper winner Front View with another four lengths back to Entoucas, who chased home Klassical Dream in a Leopardstown maiden last Christmas.
“I’d say he will go for the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse next. He’s not short of pace as he showed there and you couldn’t have asked for any more from him,” reflected Elliott. “We think he could go all the way but we’ll just take things one step at a time. He’s exciting.”
Envoi Allen (Davy Russell) put in some flawless jumping to win the Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle \ Healy Racing
Commanding
Elliott then made it seven winners over the two days as Easywork produced a commanding display in the Eventsec (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race. The 8/11 favourite showed plenty of promise in his sole outing last spring and he built on that with a pillar-to-post triumph.
The Jamie Codd-ridden gelding had most of his rivals beaten approaching the last quarter of a mile and soon dealt with the runner-up Ultima Thule to score by nine and a half lengths. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding could now go hurdling.
The day began with a smart display from Joseph O’Brien’s A Wave Of The Sea in the Value Cas 3-Y-O Hurdle. This Demi O’Byrne-owned son of Born To Sea had to work hard to score on his second jumping start at Punchestown last month but it was an entirely different story here.
J.J. Slevin moved the 2/1 chance to the front before the third last and A Wave Of The Sea proceeded to stretch into an ever increasing lead which saw him hit the line with 20 lengths to spare over Khanmurjan.
The 6/4 favourite and French import Saint D’Oroux could only manage fourth.
A Wave Of The Sea and J.J. Slevin winning the Value Cabs 3-Y-O Hurdle by a comprehensive 20 lengths \ Healy Racing
To his credit, the winner is progressing nicely with every run over timber and this effort would suggest that he should at least be up to holding his own at graded level.
WILLIE Mullins also made his presence felt at the track’s biggest fixture of the year as he won both races that he had runners in and his second success came courtesy of Real Steel in the Grade 2 Irish Daily Mirror Chase.
In a race that the champion trainer last won in 2001, the 158-rated Real Steel was returned the 4/5 favourite for his first outing of the season and Paul Townend bided his time at rear as Secret Investor and Mengli Khan set a very searching pace up front.
This strong gallop took its toll in the closing stages and Real Steel had no difficulty asserting from the second last before an 18-length triumph over a weary Secret Investor.
“Paul said he slipped into the fence past the stands and that he was lucky to stay up. After that he jumped well except for the third last,” remarked Mullins of the Sullivan Bloodstock-owned winner.
“He’s in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury but Paul feels he is happier going right-handed so we’ll see.”
Good jump
Earlier, the Mullins-trained Janidil turned in a fine display to claim the Grade B North Down Marquees Handicap Hurdle. This five-year-old, who was among four runners in the race for J.P. McManus, was making just his third appearance over hurdles in Ireland and this was his first venture outside of maiden company.
The well-backed 11/4 chance was sent to the front by Mark Walsh before three out and a good jump at the second last enabled him to open up a lead that never looked likely to be bridged. The 33/1 outsider Try Again close in all the way to the line though to ensure the winning margin was just three-quarters of a length. There are more good handicaps to be won with this five-year-old.
Handicapped
“We thought he was nicely handicapped so came down this route which we wouldn’t normally do,” reflected Mullins. “He’ll improve as the season goes on and we’ll see what the handicapper does as he could either stay handicapping or come back into novice company.”
Paul Nolan’s string are heading into the winter in fine heart and he sent out his fourth winner in seven days when Castafiore Park pulled off a gamble in the Rainbow Communications Handicap Chase.
On her first start since March, the Philip Byrne-owned mare was backed from as big as 16/1 in the morning into 7/2 and she left her previous chase form behind with a competent display.
The seven-year-old jumped well throughout for Sean O’Keeffe and when she hit the front with three to jump she galloped on resolutely to defeat Guided By You by the margin of four and three-quarter lengths.
Rathhill’s run disappointing
BARRY Geraghty reported that Rathhill ran disappointingly for no apparent reason in the handicap hurdle won by Janidil. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding was the 5/2 favourite and finished a remote last.
Flanagan banned
SEAN Flanagan picked up a one-day careless riding ban after the stewards looked into an incident in the closing stages of the juvenile hurdle.
Poor run from Mengli Khan
KEITH Donoghue reported that Mengli Khan stopped very quickly in the race won by Real Steel where he finished a remote last.