Gigginstown lining up strong squad for Down Royal Grade 1

Gigginstown have farmed recent runnings of the JNwine.com Champion Chase and the operation will be strongly represented in Saturday's renewal of the three-mile Grade 1 event.

Responsible for 11 of the 20 entries, Gigginstown will be going for a fifth consecutive victory in the first top-level event of the Irish season.

The forfeit stage for the race is on Tuesday and speaking on Monday Eddie O'Leary said: "We haven't finalised plans yet but Valseur Lido and Outlander are intended runners and we could have four or five in the race.

"A few of our entries – Road To Respect, Disko, Balko Des Flos and Alpha Des Obeaux – are also eligible for the Grade 2 chase for second season novices on the same card and we'll probably run a few in that two-and-a-half mile race too."

Valseur Lido was an 11-length winner of the race a year ago. The Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old went finished fourth behind Outlander in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December but missed the rest of the season.

Outlander's form tapered off following his Lexus Chase win and he finished a well-beaten sixth in the Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown on his recent return to action.

O'Leary added: "Noel Meade trains Disko and Road To Respect and we'll see what he wants to do."

Road To Respect landed the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star Chase on his reappearance at Punchestown 12 days ago having won the Browne Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Cheltenham Festival and the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on his final two starts last season.

Saturday's race is also likely to feature the reappearance of the Jessica Harrington- trained Our Duke, winner of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National last season.

The ground at Down Royal was reported to be soft yesterday.

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