Former Galway Plate and Grade 1 winner chaser Road To Riches got off the mark in the Hunter Chase sphere when taking the Cocklakes Open Hunters' Chase at Carlisle.
The 12-year-old was getting off the mark on his second attempt for David Christie, since being bought by owner/rider David Maxwell for £35,000 at the Doncaster September sale back in 2018.
The son of Gamut won a five-year-old maiden at Sligo for Martin Cullinane back in 2012, before being sold to Gigginstown. Trained by Noel Meade the Sunnyhill Stud-bred gelding went on to win over €600,000 in prizemoney taking both the Grade 1 Lexus Chase and the Grade 1 JNwine Champion Chase.
However Road To Riches will probably be best remembered for taking the 2014 renewal of the Galway Plate under Shane Shortall.
Although not passing the post in front since November 2015, the consistent sort ran a few big races in defeat, including finishing 3rd in the 2016 Ryanair at Cheltenham and certainly not being disgraced when 6th in the 2018 Grand National behind Tiger Roll.
Bought by current connections for a Hunter Chase career, the classy sort made a pleasing debut in this sphere under David Maxwell when second at Carlisle earlier in the month.
The bay went one better just 10 days later when running out an easy 14-length winner in a four-runner contest at the same venue on Sunday, which was run over 3m1/2f on heavy ground.
Indeed this was a very important winner for David Maxwell as the Corinthian now goes two winners clear of Sam Waley-Cohen in his bid to become champion National Hunt amateur in the UK.
It's a first win under rules since November 2015 for dual Grade 1 winner Road To Riches, now in the hands of owner-jockey David Maxwell. The 12yo put in a very clean round of jumping to win the Hunters Chase at Carlisle
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2019
Results %u27A1 https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/Fr2Uu7DenZ
