Road To Riches

The two-mile novices' chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday was made easier when Ned Buntline was taken out of the race, but Road To Riches still put up a fine performance to win it. Sent to the front from flagfall by Paul Carberry, his jumping was good, if a little to the left on occasion. Mallowney loomed up as a threat on the run to the second last, but he quickly came under pressure and he could not make any in-roads into the Gigginstown horse's lead. Road To Riches was out to his left again at the second last fence, and once again at the last, but it did not halt his forward momentum, and he kept on well all the way to the line to win well in a good time, the fastest comparative time of the day by some way.

After a fair amount of trial and error, we could have finally happened upon Road To Riches' ideal trip and conditions. Winner of a point-to-point, and of a Grade 3 three-mile novices' hurdle on soft ground, he ran well for a long way in the Drinmore Chase over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse in December before it appeared that he just failed to get home. Pulled up in the Racing Post Novices' Chase on his first attempt over two miles, Noel Meade obviously decided that it was worth another try, and it obviously paid dividends. An extended two miles on goodish ground is probably optimum for him. He seems to enjoy bowling along out in front and, over the minimum trip, his rider can be as aggressive on him as he likes.

The Noel Meade-trained gelding is only seven, and this was just his fifth run over fences. As such, he still has lots of scope for progression. Also, given how he jumped to his left here, he should be able to do even better back on a left-handed track. He is an exciting chaser for next season.

20th April 2014

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