Road To Respect is reaching the pinnacle
NOEL MEADE believes Road To Respect is at the top of his game ahead of the defence of his crown in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon. The seven-year-old claimed his second success at Grade One level when scoring 12 months ago and went on to finish fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and third in the Punchestown equivalent. He looked better than ever when making an impressive reappearance in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down
Royal last month, and Meade reports his charge to have enjoyed the perfect preparation. ‘He was very good in the north (Down Royal) and he’s had a trouble-free run since then. We’re very happy with him,’ said the trainer. ‘Everything looks good and we know he likes the track. We’re looking forward to running him.’ Meade also saddles Disko, off the track for over a year due to injury problems.
‘We’re happy with him, but it’s his first run back and I’m sure he’s going to need it,’ Meade added. Road To Respect and Disko are both owned by Gigginstown House Stud, whose colours will also be carried by Ryanair Chase hero Balko Des Flos (Henry de Bromhead) and the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Outlander and Shattered Love. Meanwhile, in the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle, Apple’s Jade clashes with Faugheen. Elliott’s Apple’s Jade has
looked imperious so far this season, with wins in the Lismullen Hurdle and Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. ‘Apple’s Jade was very good the last day. Let’s hope she can do the same again. She’s in good form,’ said Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for Gigginstown. Faugheen was expected to make a winning return in the Morgiana Hurdle, but it did not go to plan as his stablemate Sharjah breezed past him. Previously he had looked as good as ever up to three miles at Punchestown and Willie Mullins will be hoping the step back up in trip works the oracle. ‘If he can reproduce his performance from Punchestown he’ll put it up to Apple’s Jade, but she was exceptional the last day in Fairyhouse and will probably be hard to beat,’ said son and assistant, Patrick. ‘However, she’s probably best going right-handed. Faugheen is going to have to run right up to his best, right up to what he did at Punchestown in April, to beat her.’