3 minute read
Trainer Noel Meade believes Road To Riches is a "stupid price" for Saturday's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
Having struck twice at the highest level last season before finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, there is little doubt the nine-year-old brings the strongest form to the table and he looked as good as ever when winning on his seasonal return in November's Clonmel Oil Chase.
However, he was unable to defend his crown in the Lexus Chase due to being under the weather over the Festive period and although Meade is confident his stable star is back firing on all cylinders following a pleasing racecourse gallop at Punchestown last Sunday, he feels bookmakers may have underestimated his task this weekend.
"Everything has gone well since Christmas and he seems in great shape this morning. Bryan (Cooper) seemed delighted with him at Punchestown last Sunday and Ger Fox, who rides him at home, couldn't be happier with him," said the County Meath-based trainer.
"What will be will be and we're just going there hoping for a clear run and a bit of luck, which you always need in these big races. The one thing I would say is I think he's a stupid price. He's entitled to be favourite, but he's only 5lb clear on the ratings, so I wouldn't expect him to be so short in the betting.
"That does put the needle into it a bit, but there's nothing we can do about the price and all we can do is get him there in good shape, which we think he is."
Road To Riches is odds-on across the board to beat nine rivals, with Meade also fielding Wounded Warrior. T he seven-year-old was last seen chasing home Don Cossack in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles and Meade thinks he is capable of making his presence felt.
He said: "He wasn't that wound up for Thurles. He had a bit of a setback which held him up and it was pretty much a stepping stone for him.
" He's in good form and stepping back up to three miles will suit him. Three miles is the very minimum - the further they go, the better he'll go. He's a horse I've always felt could get right up to the top and if he jumps well and all goes well for him, I think he'll run well."
Ted Walsh's Foxrock was runner-up to Carlingford Lough 12 months ago and ran his best race since when third in the Lexus.
Owner Barry Connell told At The Races: "He seems to run well in Leopardstown every time he goes there. He was beaten three-quarters of a length in it last year and a length in the Lexus. He has it to do on the ratings - Road To Riches is (rated) 165 and we're 160 - but he'll be bang there coming to the last and I think he'll be hard to keep out of the money."
Stuart Crawford saddles outsider Fine Rightly, and said: " He seems in good form and I think he's improving all the time as well so we're very hopeful he can step up to three miles now he's learning to race a bit better. "