Down Royal Preview: Duke can stop Gigginstown domination

The JNwine.com Champion Chase is the first Grade 1 of the National Hunt season in the UK and Ireland, and has been won by some of the greats of the game since its inception in 1999, including Florida Pearl and the dual winners Beef Or Salmon and Kauto Star. Gigginstown House Stud has dominated the race in recent years, however, having won five of the six renewals since the second of Kauto Star’s two victories in 2010, and Michael O’Leary’s operation is well represented again this time round, with the maroon, white, yellow and blue caps all needing to be called upon.

Road To Respect appears to be their leading contender despite jockey Sean Flanagan only donning the blue headgear. A winner at both the Cheltenham and Fairyhouse Festivals in a highly productive first season over fences, he picked up where he left off when winning a Grade 3 after six months off at Punchestown (by a length and a half from Kilcarry Bridge, Sub Lieutenant third, Zabana fifth, Outlander sixth, Carlingford Lough seventh) last time, staying on strongly to lead on the run-in (not unduly punished). The step up to 25f was clearly no problem to him that day, and Noel Meade’s charge looks sure to go well as he attempts to register a second Grade 1 victory, following on from his defeat of Yorkhill in an eventful renewal of the Ryanair Gold Cup back in April.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sub Lieutenant was one of the most consistent chasers in training last term, and had excuses when below form on his return after six months off at Punchestown. He was unable to dominate at a trip that possibly just stretches him there, and should strip fitter with that initial outing under his belt, though similar question marks about the trip apply here. The Gigginstown quartet is completed by Outlander, who has shown next to nothing in three starts since winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown (by two and a quarter lengths from Don Poli, More of That sixth, Zabana seventh) last December, and Alpha des Obeaux, who has plenty to find with the principals on form.

Indeed, the top-class standard set by Our Duke means that a career-best is likely to be needed from one of his rivals for him to be beaten here. He won two of his first three starts over fences last season, including a Grade 1 at Leopardstown (by half a length from Coney Island) in December, and could hardly have been more impressive when defying a mark of 153 on his final start in the Irish Grand National (by 14 lengths from Bless The Wings) at Fairyhouse in April. The way he annihilated more experienced rivals that day – producing the best performance in the race since Flashing Steel’s victory off top weight in 1995 – marked him out as one of the most exciting National Hunt prospects in training at present, and he could yet have more to offer this term. Jessica Harrington’s charge really should take all the beating as he attempts to break Gigginstown’s stranglehold on this race.

Gigginstown should not leave Down Royal empty-handed, though, with Disko likely to go off a short price for the following Skymas Chase, a Grade 2 for second season chasers. Disko, one of five runners in the race for his owners, actually had Our Duke a length and three quarters behind when winning the Grade 1 Flogas Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown (Balko des Flos third, A Toi Phil fifth) in February, and should be okay back down in trip, having won over 3m when last seen in the Grade 1 Champion Novices’ Chase at Punchestown (by five lengths from Anibale Fly, A Toi Phil fourth) in April. Ballyoisin is improving rapidly and looks likely to emerge as the chief threat.

Joseph O’Brien has his first runner at the Breeders’ Cup with Now You’re Talking on Friday night, and appears to hold good chances in the first three races on Saturday’s Down Royal card, including Housesofparliament in the valuable 2m handicap hurdle, while Gordon Elliott has won three of the last four renewals of the closing bumper. His representative this time round, the Gigginstown-owned Rapid Escape, is likely to attract plenty of attention as a result.