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Royal Approach, bred by J. Flannery in Ireland, was sold at the Ballsbridge sales as a yearling for 500 guineas, and ran under the colors of Lord Bicester. At age 5 he was the best novice 'chaser in Ireland, who had beaten experienced horses on the flat, over hurdles and over fences, winning, among others, a Corinthian 2 3/8 mile flat race at the end of 1952 and in 1953, winning another Corinthian flat, two hurdle races and two novice steeplechases. In 1954 he won the Kerrymount Handicap Chase in Ireland, followed by a win in a two mile chase at Cheltenham, and then was brought back to Ireland to win the Irish Grand National by two lengths, carrying top weight of 12 st. He was injured during his summer layoff following the National. Royal Approach's dam, Flotation, was specifically purchased to breed to his sire, King's Approach, (by Solario), who won over jumps and was a moderately successful jumper sire. |
