UK Horse Racing Tips

Gordon Elliott looks to have an exciting staying chasing prospect on his hands in the shape of the Gigginstown Stud-owned Roi du Mee, an impressive winner of the Grade 1 JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal recently.

A 13-length drubbing of former champion chaser Sizing Europe in the high-quality contest came as a surprise to most punters who allowed Roi du Mee to start a 12/1 shot, most pundits having anticipated that his stable companion Mount Benbulben, (who unseated rider when holding every chance four from home), was the more likely candidate of the Elliott-trained pair.

The eight-year-old had been defeated in both previous outings this term, possibly needing those runs to bring him to concert pitch. He certainly brought his best game to Down Royal and on this evidence looks a horse with a bright future.

Clearly a gelding who stays very well, some observers wondered if Roi du Mee could well be aimed at the Crabbies Grand National at Aintree in April, a race that his young handler famously won back in 2007 with the 33/1-shot Silver Birch. Betting firms were clearly thinking along the same lines as the son of Laveron was introduced to the ante-post market for the ‘world’s greatest steeplechase’ at odds of 25/1.

No immediate plans were mooted for the Grade 1 winner but options such as the King George VI Chase or Lexus Chase at Christmas may well be on the cards. Roi du Mee won his first four outings of last term – having finished eighth in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on his final start of the previous campaign – then finished runner-up to Quito de la Roque at Thurles in January, before winning his final two starts of the term, including the Grade 2 Atthraces Bobbyjo Chase at Thurles, a race seen as a key Aintree Grand National trial.

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