RACE PREVIEW & TIPS (FRIDAY)

15:00 Leopardstown

The showpiece race of the day and a real market to be laid down for the Cheltenham Gold

Cup by landing this valuable prize. Noel Meade’s Road to Respect looks primed to strike in this one. Fourth in the gold cup at last year’s festival but landed two grade 1s beforehand and is clearly capable at this level. He will be spot on for this following his seasonal reappearance and this track will suit him to a tee with Sean Flanagan in the saddle he is the confident pick. The obvious main danger to the selection is the new pretender to the gold cup throne, Presenting Percy, but this is his seasonal debut and he will likely need the run with all his focus being towards Cheltenham in March. 

ROAD TO RESPECT (WIN) – NAP