Un De Sceaux looking good vic’s tip:

racing: Mullins likely to get off to flying start at Punchestown Festival

UN DE SCEAUX

can give Willie Mullins a flying start to this year’s Punchestown Festival with victory in the Boyle Sports Champion Chase.

With Gordon Elliott heading into the final week of the season with a lead of around 400,000 euro, for the first time in a long time Mullins appears unlikely to be crowned Ireland’s champion trainer.

However, given the spectacular success he has enjoyed at Punchestown in recent years, it would be folly to dismiss the Closutton maestro just yet and a big opening day could make things interesting.

The popular Un De Sceaux has enjoyed another fine campaign, landing the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham in January.

He returned to Prestbury Park last month for the Ryanair Chase and, while some questioned whether his stamina would last out over the longer trip, he ran out a dominant winner.

Coming back to two miles is not an issue and, while he would prefer softer ground, his class should see him through.

The first Grade One of the week, the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, throws up a fascinating rematch between the Mullins-trained Melon and Elliott’s Labaik.

Labaik was a comprehensive winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but MELON could well gain his revenge.

The Noel Meade-trained Disko gets the nod in the Growise Champion Novice Chase.

John Gosden has his string in sensational form and is expected to add his tally with BLUE ON BLUE at Yarmouth.

SELECTIONS: PUNCHESTOWN:

3.40 Froggy, 4.20 MELON (NAP), 4.55 Roconga, 5.30 Un De Sceaux, 6.05 Early Doors, 6.40 Disko, 7.15 Tower Bridge.

YARMOUTH: 1.40 Marine One, 2.10 Investigation, 2.45 Wapping, 3.15 Hurricane Alert, 3.50 Harlequin Rock, 4.25 Blue On Blue, 5.00 Stanhope.

DOUBLE: Melon and Blue On Blue. VALDIEU (Punchestown, 6.05)