Road To Respect and Shattered Love head Gigginstown squad for Savills Chase

A fifth consecutive Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown a week on Friday would provide a fitting end to another year of big-race success for Gigginstown House Stud, who this time are placing their faith in Road To Respect and Shattered Love.

Shattered Love did figure among the 32Red King George VI Chase forfeits on Thursday, but the Kempton option appears to be second choice.

The King George had also been mooted as a possible first race of the season for Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy, but having not been added to the Kempton field, all roads now lead to Leopardstown, and on Thursday night he shared favouritism with Road To Respect at around 3-1 for a race that will light up the four-day festival.

Gigginstown manager Eddie O’Leary said: “We’ll have to take what comes but there’s rain forecast and hopefully it arrives. Road To Respect and Shattered Love would look our main two in the Savills Chase.

Shattered Love: left in the King George but more likely for LeopardstownCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

“We left Shattered Love in the King George purely because of the ground situation. We’ll make a definite decision about where she runs later in the week – an awful lot can happen in a week.

“The step back up to three miles will hopefully suit her well and we think she’s very good. It’s hard to pick between her and Road To Respect.”

Last year's winner Road To Respect could hardly have been more impressive when making a successful reappearance in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

O'Leary added: “He and Shattered Love will be our main two but we’ll be looking at running four or five in the Savills Chase.”

The Gigginstown supporting cast could include Road To Respect’s Noel Meade-trained stablemates Disko and Tout Est Permis, while the Henry de Bromhead-trained Balko Des Flos, and Don Poli and Outlander – who like Shattered Love are both trained by Gordon Elliott – are also in the mix.

O'Leary added: “Tout Est Permis was good in the Troytown but he’s rated 150 now and he’d have to carry top weight in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase or else run in the Grade 1 Savills.

Tout Est Permis: Troytown winner a possible for big Leopardstown chaseCredit: Patrick McCann

“He’s in no-man’s land off his rating. He’s a very nice horse but we’ve nowhere to go with him – he’s going to bump into a 160 or 165 horse wherever he goes.

“We’ve also got Don Poli in there. He won’t run unless there’s rain. We were delighted with his run in the Becher Chase last time. He was well entitled to get tired after being off the track for so long."

He added: “Outlander will probably run as well but there are two Outlanders and it all depends which one turns up on the day."

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