JNwine.com Champion Chase |
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| Grade 1, Down Royal 14:30 €140,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m  |
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| Saturday 4th November 2017 | |
1 Outlander 16/1
2
Road To Respect 7/2
3
Zabana 25/1
8 ran Distances: ½l, 14l, 2¾l
Time: 6m 16.10s (slow by 31.10s)
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Hot favourite Our Duke trailed home well beaten as Outlander held Road To Respect to give owners Gigginstown House Stud a one-two.
Jessica Harrington's Irish Grand National hero Our Duke neither jumped nor travelled with any real effect and could never get in a blow - though he did complete the course as last of the seven finishers.
At the front end, Outlander (16-1) landed the spoils by half a length for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy after a titanic tussle with Noel Meade's Road To Respect in the closing stages.
The always-prominent Zabana was a gallant third.
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.
"It's great. He's one of my favourites and I definitely won't forget him anyway."
Meade said of the 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 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"That's the vague plan I've got in my head."
Harrington revealed that 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."
JNwine.com Champion Steeplechase
€140,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m
8 ran
Going: Soft, Yielding in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Outlander (IRE) 16/1 | J W Kennedy 11-10 |
G Elliott | 9 | |
| 2nd | ½ | Road To Respect (IRE) 7/2 | S W Flanagan 11-10 |
N Meade | 6 |
| 3rd | 14 | Zabana (IRE) 25/1 | D N Russell 11-10 |
A Lynch | 8 |
| 4th | 2¾ | Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 12/1 | M A Enright 11-10 |
M F Morris | 7 |
| 5th | 11 | Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 6/1 | R Walsh 11-10 |
H de Bromhead | 8 |
| 6th | 12 | More Of That (IRE) 14/1 | B J Geraghty 11-10 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 9 |
| 7th | 11 | Our Duke (IRE) 5/6f | R M Power 11-10 |
Mrs J Harrington | 7 |
| UR | Carlingford Lough (IRE) 33/1 | M P Walsh 11-10 |
J E Kiely | 11 |
