Un De Sceaux looks to make history

ALL appears in place for Un De Sceaux to attempt to become the first three-time winner of the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old was a popular winner of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March but drops back to just over two miles for the Grade One event he has won twice before.

Un De Sceaux has only been seen once this campaign to date, when making a winning reappearance in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on ground so heavy the meeting was called off not long after his race.

Part-owner Colm O’Connell said: “Everything has gone to plan. He’s got just a small piece of work on Tuesday or Wednesday and that will be it. He usually travels over on the Thursday for a Saturday meeting.

“There might be a bit of rain tomorrow and more on Saturday, which would be welcome.

“If the ground is soft, our lad goes such a pace the others can’t cope.

“I’ve always said the perfect ground for Un De Sceaux is just the right side of raceable.

“The last week is always a worry. If anything happens now, a stone bruise or something, you haven’t time to recover. “The first step is getting him on the boat.” THE Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival is the aim for Black Ivory if he creeps into the race.

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson’s six-year-old followed up a victory at Aintree last month when he defeated Sykes by over a length in a Pertemps qualifier at Warwick on Saturday.

Black Ivory will still need a substantial rise from the handicapper if he is to emulate the Jefferson-trained Cape Tribulation, who won the Final in 2012.

Ruth Jefferson, the north Yorkshire handler’s daughter and assistant, said: “We will have an entry in the Pertemps.

“Last year you needed to be 137 to get in it. He will have to go up to get in it but we would love to run him.

“He has a high cruising speed but just lacks a gear. He will make a lovely chaser.

“I would love to get him to Cheltenham over hurdles before that if I can this season.

“He will probably go to Haydock for their Pertemps qualifier as it comes with a nice gap between now and Cheltenham.

“If he gets in, we will be there. If he doesn’t, at least we know we have tried.

“If not we will look at one of the handicaps at Aintree or something.”

MILNATHORT-based trainer Lucinda Russell came near to winning big races at Warwick on Saturday. I’mjoeking was second and Big River third in major events.

DUNDEE owner Jim Fyffe had a big-priced winner at Kelso yesterday as his Mirsaale won at odds of 33-1 under the guidance of jockey Callum Bewley. He has started the year in winning fashion as Uptown Funk and Sir Chauvelin won at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day.