Un De Sceaux dominates field on Hilly Way Chase comeback at Cork
The Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux ploughed through difficult conditions at Cork to canter to victory in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.
EXUBERANT chaser Un De Sceaux made light work in exhausting conditions to dominate his rivals in the Kerry Group Hill Way Chase at Cork.
The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old gave backers of the 4/6 favourite little to worry about as he stamped his class on the Grade Two contest with an impressive performance on his first start of the season.
Kerry Lee's British raider Top Gamble, a previous Grade Two winner in his own right, got to within a coupe of lengths of Un De Sceaux at one point, but Willie Mullins' superstar cruised clear from that rival to win by 25 lengths under David Mullins.
Grand National-winning rider Mullins said: "That's the first time I've ridden something like him and for a horse that goes so hard, he is so clever and sharp. Your'e just a pure passenger on him and he does everything himself.
"A horse jumped into me at the first, but it was straightforward enough after that. He is so sure of himself and it is a pleasure to ride him. He ploughed away through the conditions and jumped really well - long or short he was well able.
"I rode him for the first time on Tuesday, I've got to look at him in the past but never thought I'd get to ride him.
"I remember his first maiden hurdle - I was walking the track to ride in the bumper and saw him and said 'wow, what's that!'. I'm very thankful to Willie and the owners for getting the ride."
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Mullins was at Punchestown, where he said: "Un De Sceaux galloped away and had everything in his favour today. The ground conditions really suited him and you couldn't ask for anything more. He loves that ground.
"I've no real plans at the moment where we will go next."