ROAD GLORY

Meade star now 8-1 for Gold Cup after Sizing John flop

ROAD To Respect and Apple’s Jade gave Gigginstown House Stud a spectacular Grade 1 double on Day 3 of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Trained by Noel Meade and dashingly ridden by Sean Flanagan, 8/1 shot Road To Respect spear-headed a remarkable 1-2-3 for the maroon and white in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase, beating Balko Des Flos (66/1) and last year’s winner Outlander (16/1) in a race which saw both Sizing John and Yorkhill flop.

And, ridden for the first time by Davy Russell, Apple’s Jade bagged her seventh Grade 1 win, digging deep to get the better of Supasundae by a half-length in her first attempt at three miles in the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle.

Road To Respect gave Gigginstown its fourth successive win in the race formerly known as the Lexus, prompting his trainer Noel Meade (inset) to admit: “Everything went according to plan. Sean suggested putting the hood on and it seemed to work well. He settled great and Sean gave him a beautiful ride. He jumped well and was always travelling like a winner.” Meade, who combined with Sean Flanagan to complete a double with Snow Falcon in the finale, confirmed the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the aim for 8/1 Road To Respect, although was uncertain if he will run again before then.

Triple Gold Cup winner and odds-on favourite Sizing John never looked happy, finished a disappointing seventh and was subsequently found to be “clinically abnormal” while Yorkhill, tackling three miles for the first time, dropped away tamely to fill eighth position.

THE eight-time Grade 1 winner Nichols Canyon fatally fell at the fifth in the Christmas Hurdle yesterday.

HAVE SOME RESPECT Road To Respect (right) on his way to victory in the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown