It’s Gold Cup Day!
All the silks, all the tips, all the form
HAVE some respect — ROAD TO RESPECT — in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30, ITV) today.
Noel Meade’s seven-year-old is a horse on the up – last year he won a handicap chase at the Festival.
But Road To Respect, who runs in the colours of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, has blossomed into a Grade 1 performer since – winning twice at the top level.
Meade has given Sean Flanagan’s mount a break since his triumph in the Leopardstown Christmas Gold Cup and Road To Respect is primed to run the race of his life.
ROAD TO RESPECT has the going-places profile and the Festival know-how to scoop steeplechasing’s greatest prize.
Much has happened since the Noel Meadetrainee carried Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s colours to victory in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase 12 months ago.
Road To Respect’s sights were upped to the top level at Fairyhouse a month later, and he beat Yorkhill for a first Grade 1 win.
His stock has continued to rise this season, starting with a Grade 3 score at Punchestown in October.
Sean Flanagan’s mount went under by half a length Outlander to in the JNwine. com Champion Chase at Down Royal the following month but left the impression the return to a lefthanded course would suit.
And so it proved when he captured a second Grade 1 prize with victory over Balko Des Flos in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase in December.
Road To Respect, kept fresh for his toughest test by Meade, was strong at the finish that day, so can profit from this additional two and a half furlongs to give his owner a third Gold Cup, and a first for his trainer and jockey. Minella Rocco While finished second to the absent Sizing John 12 months ago, it is third-placed Native River who is feared most.
Colin Tizzard returned the chestnut in Newbury’s Denman Chase, and the front-runner’s 12-length (Saphir Du Rheu margin last of three) was the perfect tune-up for today. Might Likely favourite Bite is greatly respected, along with Northern challenger Definitly Red, Irish Edwulf, Gold Cup hero and Willie Mullins’ upwardly Total Recall. mobile