Daryl’s Sceau up for Sandown

DARYL JACOB is looking forward to a right royal rumble in tomorrow’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

Jacob partners the Alan Kingtrained Sceau Royal against Nicky Henderson’s reigning Champion Chaser Altior, who will also be taken on by Un De Sceaux and the exciting Saint Calvados in a four-runner cracker.

Sceau Royal – a 5-1 shot with sponsors Betfair – scored on his comeback in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month and will have a fitness advantage on Henderson’s 8-11 hotpot.

“He’s been in good form and has come out of Cheltenham well so we’re all looking forward to it. Our horse will have to improve if he is going to beat Altior but it will tell us an awful lot more about where we are and where we need to go,” said Jacob (left). Un De Sceaux will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, who is having his first outing in Britain since breaking his leg in a fall from Al Boum Photo in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Willie Mullins’ winner of the Ryanair Chase at the 2017 Festival is 9-2 second favourite with Betfair, who rate Harry Whittington’s Saint Calvados a 6-1 chance.

Saint Calvados made a winning return at Naas last month with Arkle winner Footpad well beaten when Mullins’ ace fell at the last.