The 10-time Grade 1 winner Un De Sceaux has been retired after suffering a suspensory ligament injury.

The brilliant chaser gained a legion of fans in Britain and Ireland due to his enthusiastic front-running style. He won three Clarence House Chases, two Punchestown Champion Chases and an Arkle Trophy and Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He ran 34 times for 23 wins and over €1.5 million in prize money.

Un De Sceaux (FR)

12yo: Born: 5 May 2008

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Owner: Edward O'Connell

Sire: Denham Red (FR) Dam: Hotesse De Sceaux (FR)

Breeder: Haras De La Rousseliere Et Al

FORM: 1/111/11111/F111/1F122/161112/11211/25-122

Racing away with Paul Townend to win the Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Chase in Punchestown in 2019 Healy Racing)

Willie Mullins Stable Visit February 2019 Un De Sceaux full of energy ridden by Virginnie Bascop \ Photo.carolinenorris.ie

Punchestown 2018 - Un De Sceaux and won for Patrick Mullins \ Photo HEALY RACING.

Un De Sceaux finished outside the first two just once in 21 completed runs over fences – the majority of which were in Grade 1 company.

“Right up to the end, he was trying to impersonate a four-year-old,” said Mullins.

“He worked great yesterday morning, but you could see on pulling up that he wasn’t right, and it was confirmed this morning that he had a ligament injury.”

Un De Sceaux has been among the brightest stars at Mullins’ powerhouse stable since arriving from France seven years ago.

The champion Irish trainer added: “He’s been a huge star in our yard and he’ll be hugely missed.

“You can’t replace horses like him – it’s impossible. He was a once-in-a-lifetime horse, and we were very lucky to have him.

“It was incredible how sound he was, because he was so hard on himself, and every day he gave his best in racing and in training.

“He had a huge following. The owners (the O’Connell family) have Bachasson to go to the (Cheltenham) Festival with this year in the Coral Cup, and hopefully they can look forward to that.”

He ran at five Cheltenham Festivals, winning the Arkle in 2015 and the Ryanair in 2017.

ON TWITTER

Un De Sceaux and Paul Townsend winners of the Royal Salute Whisky Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) at Ascot in 2018 Photo HEALY RACING.

Cheltenham 2017 - Eddie O'Connell, left, with his family, Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins at the Presentation for the Ryanair Chase won by Un De Sceaux

Celebrations after Un De Sceaux won the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Steeplechase in 2017 (L-R) Niall O'Connell, Mia O'Connell, David Mullins, Katelyn O'Connell, Lucy O'Connell, Luke O'Connell. HEALY RACING

Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh clearing the ditch on his way to winning the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase in Sandown in December 2016 \ HEALY RACING.

Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh winning the Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot in 2016 \ Photo HEALY RACING.

With Ruby Walsh jumping the last to win the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown in 2015/ Healy

Un De Sceaux and Paul Townend jump the last to win the Grade 2 Devenish Chase in Fairyhouse \ (Photo HEALY RACING)

Eddie O'Connell leads in Un de Sceaux after winning the Red Mills Trial in Gowran in 2014

Out on his own - Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh jump the last hurdle to win the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle in Thurles in 2013 for trainer Willie Mullins. HEALY RACING PHOTO