Road To Riches wins the Lexus

Road To Riches continued his excellent season as he added the Grade 1 Lexus Chase to wins in the Galway Plate and JNwine.com Champion Chase.

The Noel Meade trained gelding was providing his jockey Bryan Cooper and owners Gigginstown House Stud with a Grade 1 double on the day having earlier scored with Lieutenant Colonel (treble overall - won the first with Identity Thief .

Sent off the 4/1 second favourite the son of Gamut lead in the early stages before being headed approaching the fifth.

He tracked the leaders thereafter and was ridden to challenge at the second last, jumping the last in a share of second before gaining the upper hand close home, going on to score by a length and a half. On His Own who lead for most and jumped right, finished second under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins at 14/1 while Sam Winner who was prominent throughout, was two lengths back in third under Sam Twiston-Davies for Paul Nicholls at 7/1. Bobs Worth was sent off the 5/2 favourite and he finished a very disappointing last under Barry Geraghty for Nicky Henderson.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere also disappointed as he finished seventh.

Noel Meade said afterwards: "I'm thrilled. Things didn't go quite to plan as we thought we'd be able to make it. He was getting hassled up front early on but it worked out well in the end.

"We knew he was in great shape and he's been improving all the time since Punchestown.

"The way he came home I'd imagine it's all systems go for Cheltenham. You'd say he'd get the trip. He really stuck on well there.

"Bryan said they went very quick and if he had been up there he would have been going too quick. He stayed on really well and I'd say going further wouldn't bother him.

"I'll have to talk to Michael and Eddie. I don't know if he'll run again but obviously we're hoping to go to Cheltenham.

"We did the same with him that we did after Punchestown and left him off. It was never the plan to run at Gowran and he was a bit of work short. We learned a lesson there.

"Bryan rode him work in Navan last week and was delighted with him.

"I thought that was a good race today and thought it was every bit as good as the King George."

Bryan Cooper added: "He is a very good horse. Things didn't go according to plan, I didn't have to make it but they were the instructions going out.

"His jumping wasn't great down the back the second time and I was a little bit worried but I knew we were after going a good gallop so I tried to fill him up as much as I could.

"What I really liked was that he stuck out his head from the back of the last and showed that he got the trip.

"When I saw Sam ahead of me I wasn't inclined to get into a battle with him as I knew he is tough and gutsy and I thought he might out battle me a bit but fair play to my horse he stuck his head out really well.

"It is a great training performance by Noel he always said from day one that he was a proper horse and some people lost faith in him last year when he was a novice but I think he was still growing and he showed his true colours today."

Road To Riches is 14/1 from 20's with Paddy Power for the Gold Cup while Bobs Worth is 20/1 from 10's with the same firm.

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards interviewed P. Townend, rider of On His Own, concerning his use of the whip in closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that P. Townend was in breach of Reg 10 3. (f) by using his whip with excessive force and having taken his record into account suspended him for four race days.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Bobs Worth, trained by Nicky Henderson (in GB), at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson