HOT favourite Our Duke trailed home well beaten as Outlander held Road To Respect to give owners Gigginstown House Stud a one-two in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Jessica Harrington's Irish Grand National hero Our Duke neither jumped nor travelled with any real effect and could never get in a blow, though he did complete the course as last of the seven finishers.

At the front end, Outlander (16/1) landed the spoils by half a length for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy after a titanic tussle with Noel Meade's Road To Respect in the closing stages. The always-prominent Zabana was a gallant third.

Kennedy said: "He was back to himself. He was very disappointing in Punchestown the last day (sixth behind Road To Respect in the Irish Daily Star Chase).

"I know it was his first run of the season but he never jumped a fence or anything. He never missed a beat the whole way and he jumped brilliant. The cheekpieces seemed to help as he travelled great. I'm delighted.

"We were spread out across the track and maybe if we had been a bit closer he might have even pulled clear. He was very tough. It's great. He's one of my favourites and I definitely won't forget him anyway."

Meade said of the runner-up: "We're delighted with him but disappointed at the same time. He ran a cracker. His tendency to go left may have cost him in the end.

"I'll talk to the owners but we might leave him now until Christmas and go for the one (Lexus Chase) in Leopardstown - it's left-handed - then the Irish Gold Cup and the Gold Cup. That's the vague plan I've got in my head."

Although the result of the feature event was a surprise, it was the 5/4 favourite Disko who landed the spoils in the Grade 2 MyCarNeedsA.com Chase.

The Noel Meade-trained six-year-old, who was ridden by Sean Flanagan, beat Ballyoisin by half a length in the two-mile, three and a half-furlong contest, the pair finishing eight lengths clear of the Gordon Elliott-trained Ball D'Arc in third and with that one's stable companion A Toi Phil another length and a half back in fourth.

This was the winning grey's first outing since his Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase success at Punchestown in April.

Trainer Noel Meade said: "He's a gorgeous horse to have and we're delighted that he won and he won well. It was a tough task because he was giving away weight to everything.

"He did get a little bit tired but he's entitled to. The second horse was well in at the weights on his rating and he's a fair horse as well. We're thrilled with him.

"I don't know if maybe the Durkan might be considered with him. It possibly would and he'll certainly be entered in it anyway.

"I honestly think three miles is his best trip. I've always thought stamina is more his forte. He goes a good gallop and keeps going."

On comparing Disko and Road To Respect, who was second in the feature JNwine.com Champion Chase, Meade said: "I purposely don't work them together because I don't think it's fair. When you get them to a certain pitch you try and work them on the bridle anyway.

"Disko takes a bit more work than the other lad. It was a toss-up which one we'd run in the Grade 1.

"We thought the other fella was after doing it the last day so we go ahead and run him because this fella might take a run. So we went that way.

"To have the two of them together is unreal and we have A Genie In Abottle as well. He's been coming along very nicely. He doesn't do anything very flashy but he keeps doing it.

"In fairness, Disko put him in his place big time at Punchestown last year so it just shows you that there is a bit of a gap.

"He had some fairly good horses a long way behind him today. As in the last race, there were a couple of very good horses behind the other two boys."

Top Othe Ra lunged late to claim a hard-fought victory in the Grade B Billecart-Salmon Handicap Hurdle.

Charlie Stout led and was battling hard when pressed by Crossed My Mind, although he impeded that rival approaching the last.

The Tom Mullins-trained Top Othe Ra (12/1) was just behind them but free of trouble on the inside and stuck his neck out to deny the rallying Charlie Stout by a short-head, with Crossed My Mind an unlucky third.

"The ground was too heavy for him in Listowel and his previous run to Lagostovegas was a good run," said Mullins. "He's in all year but he has been working well and showing that he was fit and well to come here. Paul (Townend) gave him a lovely ride.

"He's in the Greatwood but that could be biting off more than we can chew. We'll see and we're after getting that pot and he absolutely owes me nothing.

"His main target will be the Galway Hurdle and he'll have enough weight to get into it now. He's won in Galway a couple of times. He'll get a break after Christmas."

Espoir D'Allen confirmed his standing as one of the better early-season juveniles by landing Down Royal's Value Cabs 3-Y-O Hurdle impressively.

Successful in France before making a winning start in the JP McManus colours at Punchestown, the Gavin Cromwell-trained 2/5 favourite tracked the leaders until cruising to the front after two out.

Kuraka tried to make a race of it but Barry Geraghty always seemed confident and barely moved a muscle as his mount sauntered a length and three-quarters clear.

"That was good. I suppose the Grade Three in Fairyhouse is the obvious place to go as it's a month away," said Cromwell. "He missed the second-last and the last a little bit but he was fine and he won well enough. It was a good performance and he's an exciting horse.

"It's very hard to know how good he can be but he's going the right way anyway and giving us all the right signals. I've only really had Jer's Girl and he's right up there."

When asked if ground and trip would be any problem if he was to turn into a Triumph Hurdle contender at Cheltenham, Cromwell said: "I don't think it would be any problem at all. He's by a sire (Voix Du Nord) that's had success there before with Defi Du Seuil."

Geraghty added: "He did it well. They went a nice even pace and it rode like a good race. He has a good pedigree, as he's by the same sire as Defi Du Seuil, and he looks a nice horse."

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