UN De Sceaux (40) set a scorching early pace and simply coasted home to take a two mile beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse. He charged off in his usual gung-ho fashion and made his only error when over-jumping the first and landing too steeply, risking unseating his rider. Thereafter he went clear and was never in danger.

From three out, the early pace told and Un De Sceaux came home from there in 62.35 seconds compared with the 58.67 seconds they managed in the next race over a mile longer. However he’d run his rivals ragged and only had to fend off an eventually impotent challenge from a runner-up who could never get on terms or even put his rival under pressure.