Outlander holds off Road To Respect to win at Down Royal
Gordon Elliott's Outlander battled to beat Road To Respect in a Gigginstown dominated JNwine.com Champion Chase, with hot favourite Our Duke struggling throughout.
OUR DUKE trailed home last as Outlander held off the challenge of Road To Respect to give owners Gigginstown House Stud a one-two in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
A hugely impressive winner of the Irish Grand National last season, there was plenty expected from Jessica Harrington's seven-year-old but he neither jumped nor travelled with any real panache throughout.
It was Gordon Elliott's Outlander (16-1) and jockey Jack Kennedy who capitalised on the hot favourite's poor showing after a titanic tussle with Noel Meade's recent Punchestown winner Road To Respect in the closing stages.
Kennedy said: "He was back to himself. He was very disappointing in Punchestown the last day (sixth behind Road To Respect in the Irish Daily Star Chase).
"I know it was his first run of the season but he never jumped a fence or anything.
"He never missed a beat the whole way and he jumped brilliant. The cheekpieces seemed to help as he travelled great. I'm delighted.
"We were spread out across the track and maybe if we had been a bit closer he might have even pulled clear. He was very tough.
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"It's great. He's one of my favourites and I definitely won't forget him anyway.
Meade said of runner-up: "We're delighted with him but disappointed at the same time. He ran a cracker. His tendency to go left may have cost him in the end.
"I'll talk to the owners but we might leave him now until Christmas and go for the one (Lexus Chase) in Leopardstown - it's left-handed - then the Irish Gold Cup and the Gold Cup."
"That's the vague plan I've got in my head."
Templegate's Treble
NAP 3.05 Carlisle - Westend Story: 'I'd be amazed if this horse isn't well-weighted for his handicap debut'
NEST BEST 2.50 Willoughby Court: 'Last year's Neptune winner has the potential to be ever better over fences'
TREBLE 3.20 Spy In The Sky: 'Produced a much better performance on his handicap debut last month and looks primed to strike'
Jessica Harrington said Our Duke "scoped abnormally".
She said: "He was beaten going to the first fence. He'll get a course of antibiotics and we'll go from there."
Jockey Robbie Power added: "I couldn't hold my position over the first fence so something has definitely gone amiss. He was very lacklustre and it's not him."