BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK

CHASE (GRADE 1)

SANDOWN

THE Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase has seen some enthralling battles over the years but few have provided a show of sheer guts and determination such as Willie Mullins’ Un De Sceaux produced at Sandown on Saturday.

In the end, the 5/4 favourite, responding to Ruby Walsh’s calls, beat former Champion Chase hero Sire De Grugy by a length with God’s Own only a neck behind.

However, after travelling well through the race and taking over at the eighth when Sire De Grugy’s free-running stable-companion Ar Mad made a mistake, Un De Sceaux was joined by the runner-up.

Hardly fluent two out and again at the last, he had to fight back when headed but gave his all to lead again on the run to the line. Sire De Grugy, seeking his third Tingle Creek, stayed on gamely but could find no more close home, while God’s Own also kept on willingly and Ar Mad rallied well in fourth.

Although considered by many a substitute for the brilliant Douvan, Un De Sceaux has very good form in his own right and had beaten at least two of these rivals quite comfortably in the past. In making him such a short price, bookmakers and punters alike were counting on Mullins having him spot-on first time up and the trainer did not let them down. Un De Sceaux would have won quite tidily but for the two late mistakes and he will take the beating in any race he contests.

“He was very impressive,’’ Walsh said afterwards. “We went a really good gallop and he doesn’t have to lead. He is keen but is not the fastest horse in the world. He went past Sire De Grugy but then put down at the last and had to fight back.’’

The winner is a 10/1 chance to go one better than last year in the Champion Chase but Mullins holds various cards and Un De Sceaux could take in more hurdle races as well. As things stand, the layers cannot see beyond Douvan in the big one and he varies between 8/11 and a frighteningly short 4/7.

SIRE DE GRUGY

There is every reason for Sire De Grugy to take him on again and Gary Moore has done extremely well to coax him back to something like his best.

Arguably of even more interest is Ar Mad, who was stepping out of novice company and returning after a long spell on the injury list. He kept on extremely well for a horse which had led at a searing pace before making a mess of the first of the Railway fences.

“I’d love to take them all on again with Ar Mad,’’ the trainer said. “But it’s blatantly obvious that we need to step him up in trip. I took him out of the King George because I thought I was being stupid. We could put him back in, of course, but it would cost a fortune.

“As regards Sire De Grugy, I probably made a mistake running him at Ascot because it took the edge off him. I’m gutted he was beaten,’’

It was Josh Moore’s first defeat on Ar Mad after six outings, while brother Jamie pointed out that Un De Sceaux had now beaten Sire De Grugy in all four of their encounters, so the 10-year-old had done very well to get so close this time.