Road seeks Clonmel Oil Riches

Trainer Noel Meade reports Cheltenham Gold Cup third Road To Riches to be "100 per cent ready" for his return to action in Thursday's Clonmel Oil Chase.

The eight-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign last season, winning the Galway Plate, the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal and the Lexus at Leopardstown before placing at Prestbury Park in March and in the Punchestown Gold Cup.

He was not allowed to defend his crown at Down Royal at the end of last month, with owners Gigginstown House Stud instead choosing to rely on the brilliant Don Cossack, and as a result Road To Riches was rerouted to this two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Meade said: " We're looking forward to getting him going and he's in great form.

"I couldn't be happier with what he's been doing at home and it's all systems go.

"The ground would be more of a worry than the two-and-a-half (miles). He ran a cracker over that trip when just touched off by Sizing Europe in Gowran last season and he has won a Galway Plate.

"The track wouldn't be ideal, but there's nothing we can do about that and I think he's 100 per cent ready to go."

Road To Riches holds an entry in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, while the Lexus will once again considered, but a decision on his next target will be made by his owners.

"All those races will be open to him. The owners have a lot of good horses to split up, so we'll obviously have to discuss plans with them after tomorrow," said Meade.

Three of the five runners in tomorrow's Grade Two field will carry the Gigginstown silks, with Gordon Elliott's Bright New Dawn and the Mouse Morris-trained First Lieutenant also declared.

First Lieutenant struggled to make an impact in some of Ireland's top staying events last season, but has been given some relief by the assessor, opening up more handicap options for the coming campaign.

Morris said: " It will be good to get a run into him. The trip is a bit short and he's a bit out of it on ratings, but it's a nice place to start and we can push on from there.

"There a few options for him, including the Hennessy, which he ran well in before (third behind Bobs Worth in 2012).

"There's also the Becher Chase at Aintree we might have a look at, so we'll see."

Feliix Yonger is a major contender for the formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, having won his last four starts last season.

The field is completed by Tim Doyle's stable star Mallowney.

Doyle said: " I'm surprised he's as good as he is - I haven't had one as good as him before.

"He always showed ability at home. He just needed to strengthen up and get his head in order to be as good as he is now.

"He goes on all ground, but he's much better on soft or heavy ground - the softer the better.

"There's plenty of options. We'll try to get a Grade Two or even a Grade One. After Clonmel he'll go to the Hilly Way or even the Tingle Creek. That's the way we're thinking at the moment."