SCEAUX CAN SHOW CLASS
SUCH is the domination of Willie Mullins that the Closutton trainer has no fewer than four odds-on favourites in Graded races this weekend, a quartet
which includes UN DE
SCEAUX (Ascot, 3.00) in the Sodexo Clarence House Chase.
The eight-year- old must repair his reputation in today’s feature chase having crashed out at Leopardstown over Christmas with the race seemingly at his mercy.
Mullins has said he was unhappy with his gelding’s display even before his departure two fences from home and the pressure will be on un De Sceaux to recapture some of the sparkle which has characterized most of his chasing career to date.
His critics will highlight that he has not beaten a great deal and, admittedly, names like Just Cameron, God’sGod s Own, Cla Clarcam and
Smashing don’t rate among the great two-mile chasers.
However, by and large, un De Sceaux has destroyed his rivals with electric fencing and natural pace. Sire De Grugy and Vibrato Valtat arguably provide a stiffer test than he has faced for a while, but I’m not convinced either are equal to un De Sceaux, given a clear round.
LIL ROCKERFELLER (Ascot, 2.25) will probably be one of the first off the bridle in the two-and-a-half mile hurdle, but he is a tough proposition when conditions are in his f avour and should give another bold show.
Neil King’s hurdler saves his best efforts for righthanded tracks, excelling in a Cheltenham Grade Two hurdle behind Camping Ground last time. The fiveyear-old looks a fair each-way proposition back in handicap company at a track where he has done well in the past.
The handicapper could well have been harsher on ROYAL
REGATTA (Ascot, 3.35) for his latest triumph and, though he is far from consistent, he gains the nod to land a tricky handicap chase.
An 11-length win over Mala Beach over course and distance reads well in the context of the runnerup’s fine run in Thursday’s Thyestes Chase at Gowran and the tongue-tie and blinkers may have concentrated the mind.
Plenty will believe Le Prezien is a good thing in the Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle, but I TS’AFREEBEE (Haydock, nap, 2.05) may be underestimated in today’s market and is fancied to spring a mini surprise.
Dan Skelton’s horses are starting to run a little better and his six-year-old was impressive when scoring over a shade further at Haydock last month. Champion Hurdler, heads the five runners in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle. His main threats are stablemates Nichols Canyon, who beat him in the Morgiana Hurdle in November, and Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire. Mullins trains the favourites for 11 of the Festival’s non-handicap races.