Weather derails shot at history
UN DE SCEAUX could head to Newbury, Leopardstown or step back up in trip for the Ascot Chase after Willie Mullins sidestepped an outing this weekend on account of the ground.
Indications were the 11-year-old would bid for a fourth victory in Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot and have another crack at Altior in the process after coming a gallant second in last month’s Tingle Creek Chase.
However, Mullins deemed the current good to soft ground, with no appreciable rain forecast and the possibility of frost, to be against the multiple Grade One winner.
Part-owner Colm O’Connell said: ‘When the going report came this morning of good to soft and there was no real rain coming, it just wasn’t going to be soft enough, and the frost is another problem.
‘It just wasn’t meant to be. I wish the next generation all the best in trying to achieve four wins in the Clarence House, but unfortunately it won’t be us.
‘We’ve been aiming at this race since the summer as we wanted to create history. Last year he was swimming in mud coming round Swinley Bottom, and the year before the race had to be run at Cheltenham because of frost. Yesterday I was walking around without a coat, it’s crazy weather.’
He went on: ‘We’ll try to get a run into him somewhere. There’s the Game Spirit, the race (Ascot Chase) over two miles and a half miles Waiting Patiently won last year, or he could go to Leopardstown, but that means taking on stable companions which is never ideal.
‘That’s racing and it’s a brave call from Willie. But that’s why in my opinion he is the best in the business, because he makes calls the rest of us don’t have the courage to make.
‘He did the same when Un De Sceaux was a young horse regarding the Champion Hurdle. If he’d run him, I doubt very much we’d still be here talking about him as a Grade One horse as an 11-year-old.’
Meanwhile, Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy is set to make his eagerly-awaited return to action in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park next Thursday.
Successful in the Grade Two contest last year but absent since winning the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March, with unsuitably quick ground having scuppered a number of comeback options, the Pat Kelly-trained eight-year-old heads an entry of 18.
Mullins can boast seven contenders, including Bachasson and Limini.
Gordon Elliott’s squad also numbers seven and is headed by Diamond Cauchois, third in the race in 2018. Joseph O’Brien has the option of running both his promising French import Darasso and Early Doors.
Four entries for the Magnerssponsored Gold Cup are among a total of 36 horses that have stood their ground for the €100,000 Goffs Thyestes Chase on the same card.
Mullins has 11 possibles, including Total Recall and Invitation Only. Elliott has nine horses in the mix including last year’s hero Monbeg Notorious and the 2016 runner-up Mala Beach.
Henry de Bromhead has three potential runners including Solomn Grundy and another leading ante-post fancy on course to run is the Paul Nolan-trained Fitzhenry.
A winner with My Murphy in 2016, Liam Burke could seek further success with Sumos Novios. Kelly could call on Mall Dini, while Philip Dempsey has Mr Diablo and Seamus Spillane has the option of running his course winner Goulane Chosen.
Gowran’s general manager Eddie Scally said: ‘Presenting Percy returning to the race he won in 2018 would obviously be a big attraction for the public as it will be our first opportunity to see the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite this season.’