The 2018 Down Royal Champion Chase betting tips given by Horsebetting.com say Road To Respect is worth a bet to provide owners Gigginstown with a sixth consecutive winner of the 3m Grade 1 contest at the Northern Irish venue Saturday, 3 November. Top rated Balko Des Flos has a good record fresh, so rates the main danger. Last year’s winner Outlander, meanwhile, cannot be ruled out on the pick of his form and appeals each-way. For full details why, read our 2018 Down Royal Champion Chase betting tips preview.Road To Respect the Champion Chase choiceOwners Gigginstown House Stud have won the last five runnings of the Grade 1 Down Royal Champion Chase and they’ve launched a five-pronged assault on this year’s renewal of the 3m contest on Saturday (14:30). All five of the quintet have claims, but Road To Respect has top class form in the book and the potential to do even better, so is taken to land the spoils and continue their domination.
This Noel Meade trained seven-year-old has won five of his 12 starts over the larger obstacles, making the frame on three other occasions. He then went down fighting in the 12 months ago when beaten half-a-length by Outlander before landing the Grade 1 Leopardstown Christmas Chase by 1 1/4 lengths from Balko des Flos.
Road From Respect was then far from disgraced when a 12 1/2 lengths fourth of 15 to Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where the 3m 2f trip stretched his stamina to the limit, but he battled on gamely to the line nonetheless. The gelding went on to round off the campaign with a solid third of 12 to Bellshill in the 3m Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup, sticking to the task well to be beaten just under nine lengths.
The form of all the aforementioned races is strong and, given his age, there should be more improvement to come from Road To Respect. He also has a good record fresh having won first time up in each of the last two seasons. So, with the yard in decent nick, and a strike rate of 50 per cent on the forecast ground, he looks the one to be on in this and thus rates the main selection in our 2018 Down Royal Champion Chase betting tips.Bold bid on the cards from Balko Des FlosBalko Des Flos is officially the top rated in the field off 169. It puts him 4lb clear of Road To Respect and he also has a good record fresh, so this other Noel Meade trained gelding is feared most in a competitive renewal.
The seven-year-old, also owned by Gigginstown, has developed into a top class chase since impressively landing the 2017 running of the Galway Plate by 4 3/4 lengths from Shaneshill. After finishing in the frame in his next two starts in Grade 2 company, Balko Des Flos went down all guns blazing to Road To Respect in the aforementioned Grade 1 Christmas Chase.
He then gain a deserved big race success in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. After being held-up, the son of Balko made stealthy headway to race on the heels of the leaders approaching the 10th. He then took up the running three from home and drew clear.
He then stayed on powerfully up the hill to beat Un De Sceaux by 4 1/2 lengths. It was a most taking performance and, although a well-beaten fourth to Politologue in a Grade 1 at Aintree next time up, that race undoubtedly came too quickly as he ran to bad to be true in being beaten 33 lengths.
Balko De Flos’ last four form figures after a break read 2121, and that means first time up could well be the time to catch him. He is also versatile as regards ground, so a big run looks assured and he is capable of giving Road To Respect plenty to think about.Outlander not to be underestimatedGiven that he won the race last year, Outlander is another that cannot be ruled out. This Gordon Elliott trained 10-year-old is an unreliable sort, but very capable on his day. He is a three-time Grade 1 winner over fences and – yes, you guessed it – also carries the famous maroon and white colours of Gigginstown.
After landing this 12 months ago, the son of Stowaway was only beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Road To Respect in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase when making a mistake at the last. He backed that up with a solid neck second to Edwulf in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at the same venue.
Outlander’s form then tailed off, but he was far from disgraced on seasonal reappearance last month when a nine-length second to Sub Lieutenant in a Grade 3 at Punchestown when looking ring rusty. That was a step back in the right direction and he looks sure to strip much fitter for the outing.
If building on it, Outlander is up to making his presence felt in this on the pick of his form. He therefore looks a bit of value at the odds on offer, so features as the each-way option in our 2018 Down Royal Champion Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
