Road To Riches to skip Durkan challenge

Noel Meade is set to rely upon likely outsider Texas Jack in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase on Sunday after the trainer confirmed Road To Riches and Apache Stronghold will miss the Grade One.

Cheltenham Gold Cup third Road To Riches had headed the ante-post betting for the two-and-a-half-mile contest after he made an impressive reappearance in the Clonmel Oil Chase last month.

But he is instead being held back for an appearance over the Festive period, with the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown among his options.