SCEAUX ME 3
UN DE SCEAUX will face just four rivals when he bids for a hat-trick in the Grade 1 Royal Salute Whisky Clarence House Chase in Ascot tomorrow.
The Willie Mullins, right, trained, 10-year-old landed the race when it was transferred to Cheltenham last year. And, tomorrow, he’ll bid for an eighth Grade 1 victory.
On his seasonal debut, Un De Sceaux bolted-up in the Grade 2 Hilly Way in Cork, slamming Top Gamble by 25 lengths. And he’s a long odds-on favourite to beat novice Brain Power and three other rivals tomorrow.
Paul Townend will ride Un De Sceaux for only the second time – he was on board the gelding when he proved no match for Sprinter Sacre in the 2016 Celebration Chase at Sandown Park.
Meanwhile, 25 horses stood their ground at the five-day forfeit stage for Thursday’s
€100,000 Goffs Thyestes
Chase at Gowran Park, with Champagne West set to shoulder top-weight in his bid to become only the third back-to-back winner of the race.
Mullins, who has won the race a record six times, left
Polidam, Pleasant Company and Isleofhopeandreams in the race.
Gordon Elliott, yet to win a Thyestes, is responsible for 10 of the acceptors, with only five of his team guaranteed to make the cut.
His challenge will be spear-headed by Ucello Conti, having his third crack at the Thyestes, having finished third to My Murphy in 2016 and runner-up to Champagne West last year. This 10-year-old made a very encouraging return to action when runner-up to Anibale Fly in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Other notable Thyestes acceptors include Pat Kelly’s Mall Dini and French import Vieux Morvan, which made a highly encouraging Irish debut for Joseph O’brien when fifth in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown.