Road To Respect (yellow cap) on his way to victory

Road To Respect wins dramatic Christmas Chase at Leopardstown

17:16 · THU December 28, 2017

Road To Respect led home a Gigginstown procession to win the Grade One Christmas Chase, with Sizing John and Yorkhill both well beaten.

The six-year-old completed his graduation from a handicap victory at last season's Cheltenham Festival to this open Grade One as he held off Balko Des Flos and Outlander in a thrilling finish which will shake up the market for the 2018 Gold Cup.

Sizing John saw his winning run come to an end with a hugely disappointing performance, an early mistake putting him on the back foot, while the free-going Yorkhill faded rapidly after a mistake down the far side on his return to action.

Noel Meade's horse, by contrast, stalked 66/1 outsider Balko Des Flos before taking up the running and showing his now trademark tenacity to knuckle down and score, reversing Down Royal form with the third-placed Outlander (16/1) to win at odds of 8/1.

Gigginstown were also responsible for the fifth and sixth, in Alpha Des Obeaux and Valseur Lido.

There was a sad footnote to proceedings once more, with Andrew Lynch's Grade One winner Zabana being fatally injured in a fall at the seventh fence.

Winning jockey Sean Flanagan said: "He's been a very good horse to me in general and did everything perfectly today, I'm delighted.

"I thought halfway down the back I was too far back and was flat out and couldn't be much closer. There was no hiding place and it was a true-run race.

"To be fair when I got a bit of room he came alive. He's got loads of speed. He's a very good horse."

He added: "I wouldn't be worried about the (Cheltenham) Gold Cup distance as he settled well there and he has won at the track before."

Sean Flanagan celebrates

Going for Gold?

Sky Bet cut King George winner Might Bite to 3/1 from 9/2 for the Gold Cup, making him favourite, with Sizing John out to 8/1 and Yorkhill 20s.

Road To Respect is into 10/1 from 25/1 and sits third in the betting from Kempton winner Coney Island at 12/1.

Spokesman Michael Shinners said: "It's safe to say that we're all a little stunned not just by the result, but by the manner of defeat for Yorkhill and, in particular, Sizing John.

"The latter may well bounce back in the big one whereas Yorkhill's participation must now be in some doubt, with options over shorter likely to be considered more suitable.

"Whatever the case, we head into 2018 with a wide-open Gold Cup in prospect, which is great for racing fans."

With Min beaten, might Yorkhill have just made his own peculiar case for the Champion Chase? pic.twitter.com/RifAiFzHSA
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) December 28, 2017

'He's a Gold Cup contender'

Meade added: "Everything went according to plan. The hood obviously worked well. Sean rode him the other day and he said maybe a hood might help him to settle early on. He settled great and he gave him a most beautiful ride.

"I suppose when it works out it's always a great ride, but it was actually an absolute peach of a ride.

"He's a Gold Cup contender now, so he'll so for the Gold Cup. Whether he runs in between or not, I don't know.

"I suppose if he did he would run back here, but we have to think where Disko is going to go as well. We'll talk to Eddie and Michael (O'Leary) and see what they are going to do."

He added: "I always felt we were travelling like a winner, but I didn't let a yip out of me until they were 50 yards from the line.

"Sean has gone from strength to strength for us since he took over (from Paul Carberry as stable jockey) and we couldn't be happier. We get on very well together and he rides very well. The more confidence he gets, the better he is riding.

"We were very hopeful as he was in terrific form. We knew he was in great shape and we were just hoping that he'd keep improving.

"He had to improve a lot to get up there, he had another 10lb to get up there. We thought he had, as he did a bit of work in Fairyhouse last week and did it very well."

'Back to the drawing board'

The Jessica Harrington-trained Sizing John was a distant seventh under Robbie Power, who said his mount "was never going". The seven-year-old was reported to be distressed following the race and found to be clinically abnormal after being examined by veterinary staff.

One place behind Sizing John was Yorkhill, whose trainer Willie Mullins said: "It's disappointing and I'm not sure he has a career as a three-mile chaser. It's back to the drawing board with him."