Sceaux is so popular for repeat in Ryanair

UN DE SCEAUX has been cut to evens favourite by Coral to land Thursday’s Grade One Ryanair Chase for the second year running after confirmation his biggest rival, Waiting Patiently, will skip the meeting and be aimed at a race at Aintree next month. Coral spokesman David Stevens said of the Willie Mullins-trained 10-yearold: ‘We have cut him because of second favourite Waiting Patiently’s withdrawal and the fact Un De Sceaux has been well backed. The race is not looking the strongest now and Un De Sceaux sets a high standard.’ Ruth Jefferson, trainer of Waiting Patiently, has appeared lukewarm on a Festival challenge with the gelding who landed last month’s Grade One Ascot Chase. But she said her decision had come down to the fact that Waiting Patiently had not trained well since his Ascot win. DONNA’S DIAMOND, the Chris Grant-trained winner of the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock, has been supplemented to the line up for Thursday’s Grade One Stayers’ Hurdle at a cost of £15,000. Callum Bewley will ride.