Road To Respect to miss Leopardstown and go straight to Cheltenham

Road To Respect, winner of the Grade 1 Leopardstown Christmas Chase last month, will head straight for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in March after connections decided against running him in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old, the general 7-2 favourite on Tuesday morning, was missing from the list of ten acceptors for Sunday's Grade 1 event and trainer Noel Meade said: "Road To Respect is fine. He's 100 per cent. But we talked things over this morning and decided against running on Sunday as the ground will probably be softer than ideal for him.

"Instead of giving him a tough race on Sunday, he'll go to Cheltenham a fresh horse and, hopefully, will get the better ground he likes there."

Our Duke: all set for Sunday's big raceCredit: Caroline Norris

Our Duke, who underwent surgery on his back after flopping on his reappearance at Down Royal in November, is set to go on a recovery mission and rekindle his Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirations in Sunday's big race, according to trainer Jessica Harrington.

She said of last year's Irish Grand National winner, on Tuesday the general 11-4 favourite: "Touch wood, everything is good with Our Duke. He'll have a blow in the morning and that should leave him all set for Sunday."

Harrington was successful in the race a year ago when Sizing John landed the prize before going on to win the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Killultagh Vic: will represent Willie Mullins in the Irish Gold Cup on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

Willie Mullins, who is seeking a tenth win in the race, will be represented by Djakadam and Killultagh Vic. He said: "Both horses are in good form and are intended runners."

Djakadam ran well below his best when pulled up in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase on his most recent start while Killultagh Vic, who is two from two over fences, made a successful return from an absence of almost two years when winning over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

The acceptors for Sunday's three mile event also include Outlander, confirmed a runner by Gordon Elliott on Tuesday, Minella Rocco, Valseur Lido and Anibale Fly, winner of the Paddy Power Handicap Chase over the course and distance last month.

Henry de Bromhead confirmed Petit Mouchoir on-course to clash with Footpad in the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase, for which there are seven acceptors, on Saturday.

Footpad is two from two over fences and landed the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown last month while Petit Mouchoir, who met with a setback after scoring on his chasing debut at Punchestown in October, twice finished in front of Footpad over hurdles last season.

Henry de Bromhead confirmed Petit Mouchoir on track for LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann

"It's so far, so good with Petit Mouchoir and he is an intended runner on Saturday," said De Bromhead who is planning to run Monalee in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase on Sunday, a race for which Meade confirmed Snow Falcon.

The ground at Leopardstown yesterday was "soft" on the hurdle course and "soft, yielding in places" on the chase track. Showers were forecast for last night with mainly dry weather expected for the coming days.

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