Irish Daily Mirror

NOEL’S ROAD IS STREETS AHEAD A Missed chance for Irish

- BY PETER O’HEHIR

ROAD TO RESPECT has the going-places profile and the Festival know-how to scoop steeplecha­sing’s greatest prize.

Much has happened since the Noel Meadetrain­ee carried Ryanair boss Michael O’leary’s colours to victory in the Brown Advisory & Merriebell­e Stable Plate Handicap Chase 12 months ago.

Road To Respect’s sights were upped to the top level at Fairyhouse a month later, and he beat Yorkhill for a first Grade 1 win.

His stock has continued to rise this season, starting with a Grade 3 score at Punchestow­n in October.

Sean Flanagan’s mount went under by half a length to Outlander in the Jnwine. com Champion Chase at Down Royal the following month but left the impression the return to a lefthanded course would suit.

And so it proved when he captured a second Grade 1 prize with victory over Balko Des Flos in the Leopardsto­wn Christmas Chase in December.

Road To Respect, kept fresh for his toughest test by Meade, was strong at the finish that day, so can profit from this additional two and a half furlongs to give his owner a third Gold Cup, and a first for his trainer and jockey.

While Minella Rocco finished second to the absent Sizing John 12 months ago, it is third-placed Native River who is feared most.

Colin Tizzard returned the chestnut in Newbury’s Denman Chase, and the front-runner’s 12-length margin (Saphir Du Rheu last of three) was the perfect tune-up for today.

Likely favourite Might Bite is greatly respected, along with Northern challenger Definitly Red, Irish Gold Cup hero Edwulf, and Willie Mullins’ upwardly mobile Total Recall. GREAT BRITAIN avoided a whitewash on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival when Missed Approach made virtually all the running in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.

The 8-1 shot, trained in Upper Lambourn by Warren Greatrex, pulled out all the stops for Noel Mcparlan to see off two Irish raiders and land the spoils.

Missed Approach went one better than last year when he finished second in the National Hunt Chase.

Pat Kelly’s Mall Dini, the 4-1 favourite, put in a strong challenge but Missed Approach held on doggedly by half a length.

Gordon Elliott’s Squouateur (5-1) was five lengths away in third and Double Ross (40-1) fourth for Nigel Twiston-davies.

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Mcparlan, who was claiming a first Festival winner, said: “This is very special. I never thought this day would come.

“He stuck his head out and galloped all the way to the line – very simple.

“All my lad does is stay and stay.”

Missed Approach was having a first start since he underwent a wind operation in February.

Greatrex said: “He’s given him a peach (of a ride).

“This horse this year has annoyed me because he’s a good horse – he just hadn’t got it together.

“He stays, he jumps and he’s brave.

“The owner wanted to go to Uttoxeter on Saturday for the Midlands National but I persuaded him to come here. He might go for the Scottish National.”

 ??  ?? Road To Respect (right) in action at Leopardsto­wn
Road To Respect (right) in action at Leopardsto­wn
 ??  ?? FIVE LENGTHS THIRD Trainer Gordon Elliott
FIVE LENGTHS THIRD Trainer Gordon Elliott

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