Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RESPECT TO FIVE TIMER ELLIOTT
Glory day for Gordon
ON a day dominated by Gordon Elliott, the Noel Meade-trained Road To Respect captured the Grade 3 Daily Star Chase in Punchestown.
Elliott enjoyed a phenomenal five-timer, plus the victory of Pallasator and Norman Williamson in the John Shortt Legends Challenge.
But, in the feature, it was Road To Respect and Sean Flanagan which emerged from the chasing group to get the better of front-running 25/1 shot Kilcarry Bridge, with Sub Lieutenant third and favourite Minella Rocco fourth.
Trainer Noel Meade expressed himself “thrilled” by Road To Respect’s seasonal debut success. “We had this horse and Disko in the race and this fellow was a gallop closer,” he said.
And, looking ahead, he added: “All the options are open – he could go to the north now, for either Nicholson (Grade 1) or the race for second season novices. Michael (O’leary) always wants to run in Grade 1, but we’ll talk about it before making plans.”
Meade and Flanagan had earlier initiated a double with Lez Talionis in one of the handicap hurdles.
But the rest of the day belonged to Elliott, below,who completed a phenomenal five-timer or a six-timer, if you include the impressive win of Pallasator in the John Shortt Legends Challenge (Charity) Race, which doesn’t count as an official race.
Elliott struck with Death Duty, which produced an excellent display of jumping to win the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase at the expense of Tous Est Permis and Woodland Opera.
The winner will head for the Grade 1 Bar
One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on December 3.
Davy Russell, who rode Death Duty, initiated a personal double on board Elliott’s gambled-on Ben Dundee (backed into 13/8 favourite) in the Punchestown November Festival. Elliott was also successful with triple bumper-winner Samcro, very impressive under Jack Kennedy on his hurdling bow in the two-mile maiden and now set for the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Later, King’s Song, an English import having his first run for the stable, coasted to victory for Jamie Codd in the amateur riders’ handicap chase.
And Elliott rounded off an amazing day when 11/8 favourite Felix Desjy (Lisa O’neill) bolted-up in the bumper, giving Gigginstown House Stud its fourth win of the day.