The Road to redemption

NARROWLY beaten in the race last year, Road To Respect was yesterday supplemented to Saturday’s Grade 1 Jnwine.com Champion Chase in Down Royal.

Due to an oversight at the initial entry stage, Gigginstown House

Stud had to stump up €14,000 to include the sevenyear-old in a list of 14 acceptors, eight of them owned by Gigginstown, who have won the last five runnings of the first Grade 1 event of the season.

Their likely representation includes last season’s Ryanair winner Balko Des Flow, recent Punchestown scorer Sub Lieutenant, inset, and five trained by Gordon Elliott, including a trio which also hold an engagement in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on Saturday – Alpha Des Obeaux, Don Poli and last year’s Jnwine winner Outlander. Paul Nicholls, who has won the Down Royal showpiece four times, most recently with Kauto Stone in 2012, has left Black Corton and Clan Des Obeaux in Saturday’s race. But both are also engaged in the Charlie Hall.