Un De Sceaux looks ready to turn tables

Mullins’ veteran to avenge Sandown defeat

UN DE SCEAUX

can turn around Sandown form with Defi Du Seuil and notch a fourth win in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Willie Mullins’ charge is certainly in the veteran stage of his career at the age of 12 but his neck defeat at the hands of his much younger rival in the Tingle Creek shows his ability and appetite remain undiminished.

Reappearing for the first time since dishing out a beating to Min at the Punchestown Festival, Un De Sceaux will surely have come on a bit for his first spin in 221 days.

His jumping was not foot-perfect that day, but the way he put his head down and battled against the race-fit Defi Du Seuil gives him every chance again here.

While Defi Du Seuil perhaps idled a bit on that occasion, Un De Sceaux thrives both at Ascot and on testing grou nd.

On what can be a good afternoon in Berkshire for the Irish raiding party, MAGIC OF LIGHT can take home the bet365 Mares’ Hurdle.

She won this race for Jessica Harrington last year before going on to post an excellent second to Tiger Roll in the Grand National and after a Newbury chase win last time out, she clearly remains in top form. THOMAS DARBY switches disciplines in the Matchbook Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle after failing to really find his stride in two starts over fences.

Second in the Supreme last year, Olly Murphy’s charge has let himself down

with his jumping in chase company, but can put himself back in the mix over hurdles here.

GLINGER FLAME can strike gold at the second time of asking over fences in the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Novices’ Chase at Ayr tomorrow.

Nicky Richards’ charge won his last three starts over hurdles last term, but his jumping was far from perfect on his first chasing attempt at Newcastle.

He rallied well at the finish to claim fourth, but he should have learnt plenty for the experience. TALKOFGOLD just met one too good last time, but can go well in the Bet At racingtv.com Handicap Chase.

Having triumphed at Ayr in early December, she was upped slightly in class at Kelso just after Christmas and despite finding it tough going from some way out, Talkofgold stuck to her guns to finish second. A similar effort would put her in the mix tomorrow.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 12.40 Goshen, 1.15 Nearly Perfect, 1.50 Magic Of Light, 2.25 Thomas Darby, 3.00 Espoir De Guye, 3.35 UN DE SCEAUX (NAP), 4.05 Falco Blitz.

HAYDOCK: 12.55 Serious Ego, 1.30 Windsor Avenue, 2.05 Edwardstone, 2.40 Midnight Tune, 3.15 Pentland Hills, 3.45 Billingsley, 4.15 Dr Des.

AYR: 12.40 Mayo Star, 1.15 Escaria Ten, 1.50 Glinger Flame, 2.25 Teddy Tee, 3.00 Talkofgold, 3.30 That’s My Dubai, 4.00 Emma Beag.

DOUBLE: Un De Sceaux and Thomas Darby.

Picture: Shutterstock. Un De Sceaux in action at Punchestown.