BRYAN COOPER RODE Road To Respect to a dramatic win in the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.
The pre-race favourite Yorkhill, with Ruby Walsh on board, stumbled at the final hurdle to allow the Noel-Meade trained horse surge towards the line and just hold on for victory.
Road to Respect wins the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase for Bryan Cooper and Noel Meade. pic.twitter.com/DDCM4C4rhC
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 16, 2017
Speaking afterwards, owner Michael O’Leary told RTÉ:
“He was great. Clearly the best horse finished second, but you have to jump them.
“Usually we struggle to win any of these Ryanair-sponsored races – normally Willie or JP (McManus) win them all, but it’s very nice.
“I think Noel has brought him on incredibly well this year. His run in Cheltenham was fantastic. He is very closely related to Road To Riches, so I’d say clearly good ground is the key to him and he got good ground in Cheltenham and he got good ground here today.
“Yorkhill is clearly the superior horse, but we are very happy to win one.”
Easter Sunday Fairyhouse results:
- 13.45: 1. Tudor City, 2. Agent Boru, 3. Broken Soul
- 14.20: 1. Fridaynightlights, 2. Beechmount Whisper, 3. Bakers Street
- 14.50: 1. Augusta Kate, 2. Let’s Dance, 3. Barra
- 15.25: 1. Hurricane Ben, 2. Don’t Touch It, 3. Elusive Ivy
- 16.00: 1. Road To Respect, 2. Yorkhill, 3. Ball D’Arc
- 16.35: 1. Killaro Boy, 2. Call It Magic, 3. Crest
- 17.10: 1. Red Jack, 2 Dinons, 3. Special Ted
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