Respect Meade in Gold Cup
NOEL MEADE’S endless and unrewarding sacrifices to capture the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup have not deterred him from having another shot with Road To Respect.
Meade ducked the opportunity of an expected victory for Harbour Pilot in one of the handicaps at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival, choosing instead to take on Best Mate in the Gold Cup where his gelding finished third.
Four years ago, Meade put his honeymoon on hold when attending the meeting to watch Road To Riches finish third behind Coneygree.
His marriage to wife Derville has survived and the appetite for that elusive Gold Cup has become even stronger.
Now Road To Respect attempts to better his fourth-place behind Native River in last year’s race.
“He has a fighting chance,” insisted the charismatic Meade. “I’m hoping that he’s stronger and can improve on last year’s running.
“When Harbour Pilot finished third people said if we had run in a handicap he would probably have won. But I want to win a Gold Cup.”
The larger-than-life Meade always has a twinkle in his eye and relishes a challenge, whether it is training racehorses or securing a wife.
Meade, 68, won over Derville at Kilbeggan races. He rang her and said come down to the last fence, after a horse she had bred had fallen.
She obviously feared the worst, but the horse was all right. Meade confessed it was the only way he could get her away from her mother and ask her out.
Meade also makes a strong case for Union Gap in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Festival.
He will obviously be delighted to celebrate victory with Union Gap who carries the colours of his wife, but the race he craves is nailing that elusive Gold Cup.