AS the dust settles on the two big three mile chases of the Christmas period it is no surprise that the leading British contender rests in Ditcheat with Paul Nicholls.

However, three days ago, it was less predictable that the leading Irish contender would be housed, not in Carlow or in Cork but in Co Meath.

Willie Mullins had four contenders in Champagne Fever, On His Own, Boston Bob and Sir Des Champs while Lord Windermere looked well on track after his John Durkan Chase comeback.

But in his length and a half victory over Gold Cup runner-up On His Own, the Noel Meade-trained Road To Riches answered many questions concerning his class and stamina and won with a bit in hand on a great day for Gigginstown House Stud and Bryan Cooper.

There had been questions over his running style, did he need to dominate, or was he flattered by his Down Royal win through being the fittest horse where some rivals disappointed?

Here, he was content to let On His Own lead, and well ridden by Cooper, came again after the last and finished much the best.

Given that good ground will suit him well he deserves to be the leading Irish contender. The only reservation is he has yet to run at the Festival.

Willie Mullins has every reason to be satisfied with the two Graham Wylie runners. On His Own in second, showed his Gold Cup run to be no fluke, making most and staying on well in first time cheekpieces. He jumped out to his right, more pronounced than in the Gold Cup, but he stayed in the fight until the end. If he ever got sort ground at Cheltenham, he’d be a formidable contender.

On the other hand, Boston Bob will surely improve for better ground in the spring. He didn’t travel that well through the race but stayed on without ever looking like winning. His form last spring, with two Grade1 wins, was a great deal better than earlier in the winter.

Paul Nicholls will not be too concerned as Silvinano Conti is much superior to Sam Winner. After a bad mistake in front of the stand first time, he recovered well and was in the thick of the action over the last. Staying is Sam Winner’s game but Road To Riches beat him well. The Gold Cup 3/1 Silviniaco to 10/1 Road To Riches looks too big of a difference.

Of those behind, Carlingford Lough was an eye-catcher on his first run since Punchestown last season where he won the Grade 1 Novice Chase. Some felt that last year’s RSA Chase and novice crop were substandard but the same was said about the 2013 renewal that has produced Lord Windermere and Boston Bob. Better ground would also suit and he will be interesting when next seen.

Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere was disappointing in seventh, taking closer order after the second last but failing to find anything on the run home after the last.

It should be noted though (and was so by Nick Mordin in The Irish Field last year), that he seems to need the stronger pace of British three mile chases to pull him in to contention in the latter stages.

His form at Cheltenham is of the highest order and well above anything he has shown at Leopardstown. We know there will be no hiding place in March with a strong pace guaranteed and he handled that well last year. There is no need to write off his Gold Cup prospects yet. Horses who run well at Cheltenham, inevitably run well again.

On the other hand the chances of Bobs Worth regaining a Gold Cup look slim. He lost touch turning off the back but came back on to the tails of the leaders after the second last. However, from the turn-in he could offer no more. Reported to be in good order, this was very disappointing and his worst run over fences.

Bookmakers who offered odds against the Nicky Henderson 2013 stars, Bobs Worth, Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig ever winning a Grade 1 again now look close to the mark.

First Lieutenant had a tongue tie to add to blinkers and has worn cheekpieces before so there is little more equipment that can be added. His prospects of winning a Grade 1 look slim now. An attempt at the Grand National where his fine jumping could be used might be worthwhile.

COLONEL COLLECTS

Lieutenant Colonel is the coming force on the staying hurdling scene, especially with doubts over More Of That and Annie Power more likely for the Mares Hurdle. At Fishers Cross was a surprising favourite here and didn’t jump well again. He is one to avoid at top level.

Lieutenant Colonel’s two Grade 1s within a month is pretty good going for a horse originally destined for novice chasing.

Jetson and Davy Russell set out to make all and stuck to the task well when the bigger rival ranged alongside off the bend. Jetson was left with little room in the closing stages after the last and Bryan Cooper’s ride, praised on TV by Ted Walsh, was just the right side of intimidation.

However, as is becoming then norm when challenging, he did not pull his whip through. It just creates an unnecessary risk of interference and Ruby Walsh took no chances in switching his when winning on Shemshal (4/1) in the next, a third winner of the meeting for Tony Martin.

Shark Hanlon gained some compensation for the defeat of Hidden Cyclone when Usuel Smurfer (20/1) won the Pertemps Qualifier for Barry Connell.

Henry De Bromhead’s good Christmas continued when Identity Thief took then opener for Gigginstown House.

Le Vent D’Antan won the two miles and three furlong novice chase in good style for the Liz Doyle stable where the last fence was omitted because of the sun (not low lying at 1.20 in the afternoon).

The Mullins-trained Gigginstown House representative Un Atout was weak in the market and never looked like improving on his fourth position.

The Willie Mullins representatives Briar Hill and Zaidpour were very disappointing in the Christmas Hurdle but he got his winner for the day when Up For Review impressed when making all in the closing bumper in the Wylie colours and looks a strong stayer.

LIMERICK SUNDAY

The Edward O’Grady-trained Kitten Rock, now in the colours of J.P. McManus was a very comfortable 14 length winner of the listed novices hurdle for Mark Walsh.

Andrew McNamara had a big priced double on Character Actor (12/1) and Don Vincenzo (10/1). Vercingetorix was an odds-on winner for Gordon Elliott and Davy Condon by seven and a half lengths in the opener and with some decent French form, will progress. Eugene O’Sullivan had another Christmas winner when Danny Mullins scored on The Mad Well (8/1) to foil a Walsh/O’Grady/McManus double with favourite Jumptoconclusions.

Finny Maguire took the bumper on Ryback Jack for David Fitzgerald.

FINAL WORD

After three days of Christmas action at Leopardstown and Limerick, the major surprise is that the colours of Rich Ricci have still to appear in the winners’ enclosure in Ireland. Adrianna Des Mottes, Ballycasey, Kalkir, Max Dynamite, Vautour, Zaipour were all beaten. It’s a funny old game.