Meade hoping Road To Respect can regain Savills Chase crown at Leopardstown

Noel Meade has revealed Down Royal winner Road To Respect is in line to return to Leopardstown at Christmas, bidding to repeat his 2017 heroics in the Grade 1 Savills Chase on December 28.

The Gigginstown chaser holds an entry for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton two days earlier but the Tu Va Stables trainer told the Racing Post that Leopardstown is the eight-year-old's priority.

"Road To Respect is in good form and the plan is to go to the Savills Chase," he said of the 5-1 chance, who last month lowered the colours of Clan Des Obeaux in the Grade 1 Goldbrick's Champion Chase.

He added: "Last season turned out to be a bit of an anticlimax for us with him after starting off very well. He wasn't the same horse after two runs at Leopardstown on good ground."

Road To Respect made it back-to-back Champion Chase successes at Down Royal last monthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Hopefully, the ground will be okay at Christmas and we can get him there to give a good account of himself."

Kemboy heads the market for the top-level three-mile prize, priced between 13-8 and 2-1, while Sunday's John Durkan Chase third Presenting Percy is second favourite at a best-priced 5-1.

The Meath trainer could have some quality bullets to fire over the festive period, with Minella Fair an interesting contender for the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase.

Meade said: "It's possible he could go for the Paddy Power but he also has the option of the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase over three miles if the ground got very soft – he's ground-dependent."

Minella Fair holds multiple entries over the festive periodCredit: Caroline Norris

There have been some fine winners of the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle in recent years, including Faugheen, Martello Tower and Penhill, and Meade could send impressive Fairyhouse maiden hurdle winner Diol Ker into battle for the Grade 2 prize over three miles at Limerick.

"I'm happy with Diol Ker", he said. "He's a nice horse for the future who I don't want to over-race this season."

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