No Sprinter Sacre or Dodging Bullets, but a top-class renewal nonetheless with the much-hyped Un De Sceaux arriving from Ireland for the all-conquering Mullins yard.
He’s up against 2014 Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy as well as Haldon Gold Cup winner Vibrato Valtat, Simply Ned and Traffic Fluide.
Now, I’m often of the opinion the aspiring horse should be longer in the betting than the proven champ and there’s usually value backing the improving horse at a nice price.
In this instance – which is so often the case – it’s the other way around with Arkle winner Un De Sceaux odds-on despite being totally unproven in open company.
His Arkle win at last season’s Festival was very good but he only beat God’s Own, Josses Hill and Vibrato Valtat, and none have complemented the form since.
He did beat Clarcam and Gilgamboa in last season’s Irish equivalent and both have won Grade 1 races since, but there’s not a strong look to that form either – particularly in contrast with Sire De Grugy’s.
Two falls from his six career starts over fences doesn’t inspire confidence either, so he’s worth taking on from a value perspective and you can be sure there’ll be some juicy morning prices available on the opposition as bookmakers try to balance their books.
Vibrato Valtat will relish the heavy going but it’s a really big ask for him to beat another mud-lover, Sire De Grugy, who has twice finished ahead of him in the Tingle Creek (1st) and Desert Orchid (2nd) this season.
He looks back to his best after a troubled 14/15 season, and that’s level of form than Un De Sceaux has yet to match.
Anything around the 3/1 mark about Sire De Grugy looks worth taking.
1pt win Sire De Grugy at best morning price, Ascot 15:00
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