Un De Sceaux can roll back the years at Sandown

REGULAR readers will know that I often shy away from backing older chasers, and that’s probably justified in most cases with the strikerate for horses aged ten or older getting progressively worse as they age. Seven-year-olds, for example, have an overall strike-rate of 14 per cent, while for horses aged 12 or older, it’s below eight per cent. Older horses struggle particularly in Grade Ones, with 11-yearolds and older winning less than five per cent of those contests. So as a general rule, I don’t back older chasers in top-quality races – but now and again, you have to reassess on a case-by-case basis.

Having dismissed Un De Sceaux as one that’s getting too old before the BoyleSports Champion Chase at

Punchestown last time, I was left with egg on my face when he turned back the clock to repeat his 2018 victory, and he looked back to his best having had a rare off day in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham previously.

It was no mean feat to put the 8/13 favourite Min to the sword and you never would have known his age by the style of his bold jumping. Willie Mullins’ gelding will officially be 12 next month, but isn’t slowing down and just yet and may have another couple of top races in him, offering a bit of value around 9/2 in this afternoon’s Tingle Creek at Sandown (3.0).

Horses like Un De Sceaux are why people love the jumps game over the Flat: it’s the potential for an ageing star and fan favourite to come back and show the younger horses how it’s done – and I have to hold my hands up and admit I called it completely wrong at Punchestown.

Of course, Philip Hobbs’ Defi Du Seuil is the one he has to beat. Aged just six, he’s got a couple of Grade Ones to his credit including the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and he shaped well when taking the Grade Two Shloer Chase last time which will have warmed him up nicely for today. However, the key here could be the two-mile distance. His Grade One wins were at two-and-a-half miles which I reckon suits him better, and he may be vulnerable at this trip to a speedier type.

In contrast, Un De Sceaux has excelled at this trip and I reckon he still has it in him to take this again, having won it in 2016 and finished second to the mighty Altior in last year’s renewal.

Paul Nicholls has won this race a record ten times so Politologue is very much respected, while Sceau Royal, Janika and Waiting Patiently can’t be ruled out either, making this a cracker of a contest.

Over the Grand National Fences at Aintree, Definitly Red is tipped around 14/1 for the Becher Chase (1.30), his trainer Ellison choosing this over the Many Clouds Chase on the same card. The Grand National itself is Ellison’s target, having watched his gelding being pulled up in 2017 after he was badly hampered, leaving him with no chance.

He was going well at that point and seems to like it here having won the Many Clouds Chase for the second time last year. He hated the heavy ground in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby last time but it won’t be as bad today, and with 18 runners as opposed to 40 in the National, I’m hoping he’ll get around safely and make an impact.