Mullins’ star to lead the Way

MAKING his seasonal debut, Un De Sceaux should land the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase in Cork tomorrow.

Willie Mullins, inset, has won four of the last five runnings of the Hilly Way and, with David Mullins taking over on Un De Sceaux, the nine-year-old should emulate last year’s winner Douvan by making all.

A seven-time Grade 1 winner, including two victories and a second to two-mile star Sprinter Sacre at the Cheltenham Festival, Un De Sceaux enjoyed a tremendous season in the 2016-2017 campaign, reeling off a hat-trick of Grade 1 successes before failing to cope with Fox Norton in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown in April.

He began last season by beating Sire De Grugy in the Tingle Creek at Sandown exactly a year ago and followed-up that gutsy success by beating Uxizandre convincingly in the Clarence House at Cheltenham in January.

Then, with stable-companion Douvan all the rage for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Un De Sceaux stepped-up in trip for the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival. And he duly delivered, proving a length and a half too strong for compatriot Sub Lieutenant.

A keen-going, 167-rated gelding, Un De Sceaux must concede weight to his race-fit rivals but should be up to the task.

And chief threat might be Enda Bolger’s

successful off 150 in a course and distance handicap in October before going down by a half-length to Disko, when stepping-up in trip, in a Grade 2 in Down Royal.

Represented by

in the Hilly Way, Gigginstown House Stud looks set for a profitable day, with

and all making plenty of appeal. Monkshood looked a smart staying prospect when following-up his maiden success at Downpatrick by brushing aside one of tomorrow’s rivals at Fairyhouse and, up in trip, should be tough to beat in the three-mile Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle.

Course and distance winner which also beat Minella Beau, represents Noel Meade and might prove the main threat to Jack Kennedy’s mount.

Impressive in her first excursions over the bigger obstacles, at Fairyhouse and Clonmel, Shattered Love ran a cracker when runner-up to Jury Duty in a Grade 2, against the boys at Punchestsown and, back against her own sex, should beat Thurles winner in the Kerry Group Mares Novice Chase.

And Athenean should take plenty of beating in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle.