Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DUKE IT OUT
GELDING SHOULD HAVE RIVALS ON THE ROPES
ALTHOUGH facing the toughest test of his short chasing career, Our Duke should prove tough to beat in today’s Grade 1 Jnwine. com Champion Chase in Down Royal.
Six Grade 1 winners will be in the line-up for today’s showpiece, in which Gigginstown House Stud will bid for a fifth successive win, following the exploits of Roi Du Mee, Road To Riches, Don Cossack and Valseur Lido in recent seasons.
The maroon and white will be worn by four of the eight runners today, ROAD TO RESPECT, OUTLANDER,
SUB LIEUTENANT and ALPHA DES OBEAUX.
But it’s Our Duke which will be the centre of attention as the impressive winner of the Boylesports Irish Grand National embarks on a season which will, hopefully, lead him, along with stable-companion
Sizing John, to the
Cheltenham Gold
Cup.
The seven-yearold Oscar gelding will be having only his fifth run over fences today. But he’s already a Grade 1 winner, having beaten Coney Island and Disko in the three-mile Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas. Beaten by Disko in the Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1), over a shorter trip at Leopardstown in February, Our Duke stepped impressively into handicap company when bolting-up in the Irish National at Fairyhouse, taking over four fences from home and staying on powerfully to beat Bless The Wings by 14 lengths.
That victory was achieved off a mark of 153 and earned Our Duke a 14lb hike in the ratings, which leaves him on a mark of 167, a minimum of 4lb above today’s classy rivals.
But, on his seasonal bow, he’ll be tested today with the likes of Road To Respect and Sub Lieutenant, first and third in the recent Daily Star Chase at Punchestown, enjoying a fitness edge over Robbie Power’s, left, mount.
Both Our Duke and Road To Respect, which holds Sub Lieutenant, ZABANA,
Outlander and CARLINGFORD LOUGH on recent Punchestown form, are Grade 1-winning novices, starting this campaign against more seasoned performers. But they both possess the potential to make the grade at this high level. And Our Duke gets the vote.