skip to main content

Un De Sceaux faces 11 for Queen Mother Chase

Un De Sceaux leads the Queen Mother Champion Chase field
Un De Sceaux leads the Queen Mother Champion Chase field

Un De Sceaux will face a maximum of 11 rivals in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Last year's Arkle Trophy winner is odds-on across the board to provide Willie Mullins with his first victory in the two-mile chasing showpiece on Wednesday.

Ireland's all-conquering champion trainer could also call upon Felix Yonger, Twinlight and Vautour, although the latter is widely expected to line up in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup two days later.

The last three winners of the Champion Chase are in the field, with Nicky Henderson's resurgent 2013 scorer Sprinter Sacre widely considered the biggest threat to the Irish-trained favourite.

Trainer Gary Moore has suggested he could reach for the blinkers with 2014 winner Sire De Grugy, while last year's hero Dodging Bullets is back to defend his crown for Paul Nicholls.

God's Own, Just Cameron, Sizing Granite, Somersby and Special Tiara complete the confirmations.

Meanwhile More Of That, winner of both his starts over fences, is among 22 horses left in the RSA Chase on Wednesday following the confirmation stage.

His two victories this term came on this course where he also landed the World Hurdle two years ago.

Jonjo O'Neill's charge has been hogging favouritism in the ante-post market along with the Gordon Elliott-trained No More Heroes, who has chalked up two Grade One wins in an unbeaten record of three over the bigger obstacles.

No More Heroes is among a strong Irish contingent that also includes eight possibles from the Willie Mullins stable. His team consists of Black Hercules, Measureofmydreams, Outlander, Pleasant Company, Pont Alexandre, Roi Des Francs, Sambremont and Shaneshill.

Heading the British contingent are the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion, Nicky Henderson's Vyta Du Roc and Seeyouatmidnight from Sandy Thomson's Berwickshire yard.

Read Next