ROAD WON’T LEAVE YOU MAROONED
Famous colours will lead the way
ROAD TO RESPECT might have the edge over Balko Des Flos in the Grade 1 Jnwine.com Champion Chase in Down Royal today.
The Noel Meade-trained seven-yearold, beaten a half-length by OUTLANDER in this race 12 months ago, is officially rated 4lb inferior to Henry de Bromhead’s charge, but triumphed when the pair met in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase last season, when Out- lander finished a close third, and gets the vote to make a successful seasonal debut in the hands of Sean Flanagan.
Gigginstown House Stud has won six of the last seven runnings of this Grade 1, including five-in-a-row. And, responsible for five of the seven runners today, that trend looks set to continue, with just Jessica Harrington’s pair, WOODLAND OPERA and SANDYMOUNT DUKE, standing between the O’learys and further success in this traditional start-ofseason feature.
Both Road To Respect and Balko Des Flos have missed intended engagements in recent weeks, due to unsuitably fast ground. But the decision to spend €14,000 to supplement Road To Respect to today’s race should prove money wellspent.
A close second here last year, he went on to beat Balko Des Flos and Outlander at Christmas and, having skipped the Irish Gold Cup, finished a creditable fourth, beaten 12 and a half lengths, behind Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Admittedly, he disappointed when only third to Bellshill in the Punchestown Gold Cup. But, reportedly in excellent fettle over recent weeks, Road To Respect gets the vote. Henry de Bromhead runs both Balko Des Flos and SUB LIEUTENANT, winner of the recent Star Chase in Punchestown, when he beat Outlander convincingly by nine lengths.
The mount of Rachael Blackmore, successful on Bedrock in yesterday’s feature, Balko Des Flos hit the heights when turning over Un De Sceaux in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.
Previously outpointed by Road To Respect at Leopardstown, Balko ended his season when finishing a well-beaten fourth to Politologue in Aintree.
Sure to be fit and well for his seasonal bow, Balko Des Flos sets the standard in terms of ratings. But I prefer Road To Respect.
Last year’s winner Outlander is difficult to predict, but will handle ground conditions better than his stable-companion DON POLI, having his first run since February 2017.
And Woodland Opera, successful twice over hurdles before landing a Grade 2 at Gowran Park last time, beating subsequent American Grand National victor Jury Duty, looks the stronger of Jessica Harrington’s pair in a race which should, again, be dominated by the ‘maroon and white’ of Gigginstown House Stud.