Our Duke starts off on Cheltenham trail with Champion Chase bid

2.30 Down Royal
JNwine.com Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 5yo+ | 3m | ATR

Our Duke, 8-1 third favourite behind stablemate Sizing John and Thistlecrack for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, gets his chance to advertise his claims for the big prize when he makes his reappearance in Down Royal showpiece race, the first Grade 1 event of the season in Ireland or Britain.

Robbie Power, who rode the Jessica Harrington-trained seven-year-old to a 14-length win in the Irish Grand National, is looking forward to Our Duke's return.

"He's in super form and hasn't missed a beat since he came back from his summer break," he said.

"He's as fit as he can be without the benefit of a run and has been away for a racecourse gallop."

Our Duke faces seven rivals, four of them owned by Gigginstown House Stud, who will be seeking a fifth consecutive victory in the race which they won with subsequent Gold Cup hero Don Cossack two years ago.

All of the Gigginstown runners have had a run this season, with Road To Respect landing a Grade 3 chase at Punchestown last month.

His trainer Noel Meade, successful in the race with Road To Riches in 2014, said: "Road To Respect came out of his Punchestown race very well and everything has gone well with him since.

"He's going up in grade and will need to have come on from his last run, which he should have done. His tendency to jump to the left is a bit of a concern but otherwise I couldn't be happier with him."

Alpha Des Obeaux, runner-up in the Munster National last month, Sub Lieutenant, third behind Road To Respect at Punchestown, and Outlander, who disappointed in the same Punchestown event and is tried in cheekpieces for the first time, complete the Gigginstown quartet.

Ruby Walsh, who will be bidding for a fifth win in the race and who partnered Valseur Lido to victory a year ago, teams up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sub Lieutenant for the first time.

Sub Lieutenant: to be partnered by Ruby WalshCredit: Caroline Norris

The trainer said: "I was happy with Sub Lieutenant's run at Punchestown. I thought he probably got a bit tired in the closing stages but he's been in good form since."

JP McManus is represented by More Of That, making his first appearance since being pulled up in the Grand National in April, and five-time Grade 1 winner Carlingford Lough, who wears a tongue tie for the first time, as the owner bids for a first success in a race inaugurated in 1999.

McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "It's a very competitive race but Jonjo [O'Neill, trainer] couldn't be happier with More Of That and says he's in great form.

"Carlingford Lough will need to improve on his run at Punchestown last month and hopefully he will. John [Kiely, trainer] is happy with him."

The Andy Lynch-trained Zabana, a Grade 1 winner who finished fifth behind Road To Respect at Punchestown, completes the line-up.