Sport

Valseur Lido dazzles under Ruby Walsh to claim Down Royal honours

Wakea rode by Donagh Meyler  - Race 3 Billecart-Salmon Handicap - (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) 
Wakea rode by Donagh Meyler - Race 3 Billecart-Salmon Handicap - (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)  Wakea rode by Donagh Meyler - Race 3 Billecart-Salmon Handicap - (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) 

VALSEUR Lido made a perfect start to his time with Henry de Bromhead when running out a convincing winner of in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The seven-year-old bounded into the lead three out and pulled away from the opposition to give owners Gigginstown House Stud a fifth win in the Grade One over three miles.

Ruby Walsh kept the ride on Valseur Lido (2-1 favourite), who was switched from Willie Mullins' stable in September.

British raiders Silviniaco Conti and The Last Samuri set the pace until Valseur Lido cruised into contention.

He quickly put the race to bed and had 11 lengths to spare over Silviniaco Conti.

Gigginstown's Lord Scoundrel was third.

Their other runner, Don Poli, was pulled up, while the Noel Meade-trained Monksland fell five out.

Walsh said: "He travelled super, he jumped super, but he didn't do anything that he hasn't done in the past."

De Bromhead said: "He had been working very well.

"He's new to the yard, so you don't really know, but he did a lovely piece of work the other day.

"In that piece of work he just showed a gear that a real good three-miler may not necessarily have.

"We offered the ride to Ruby and he came back and said he wanted to ride him.

"I'll speak to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary, of Gigginstown) and see what we'll do for the future."

When asked about the possibility of Valseur Lido dropping down in trip, De Bromhead added: "I wouldn't imagine so, but he's new to me and Michael, Eddie and Ruby know more about him.

"It looked at any stage of the race he could have picked them up.

"He seemed to be travelling so well."

Sub Lieutenant gave trainer Henry de Bromhead a big-race double when making most of the running to lift the Titanic Belfast Chase at Down Royal.

The seven-year-old backed up Valseur Lido's success in the JNwine.com Champion Chase just half an hour earlier with a fluent display.

Winning in the same colours of Gigginstown House Stud, Sub Lieutenant was a well-supported 6-4 favourite and asserted after jumping the third-last fence.

Outlander, also owned by Gigginstown, was three and a half lengths away in second place, with the Paul Nichols-trained Le Mercurey third.