Willie Mullins’ odds-on favourite Un De Sceaux bounces back to form in the Grade 2 Devenish Chase at Fairyhouse racecourse
The pocket rocket - who had been beaten when odds-on at the Cheltenham Festival - showed all his usual enthusiasm and took advantage of a fall from Doctor Phoenix to run out an impressive winner of the Devenish Chase.
UN DE SCEAUX bounced back to winning ways in the Grade 2 Devenish Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
Willie Mullins’ chaser suffered a shock defeat at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen and may have been slightly lucky at Fairyhouse.
Turning into the home straight, Un De Sceaux and Paul Townend were miles clear of the rest of the field along with Doctor Phoenix and Davy Russell.
Coming to the second last, Doctor Phoenix looked to be serving it up to the 5-6 favourite but suffered a crashing fall.
That left Un De Sceaux clear in front who just had to jump the last to get back into the winners’ enclosure.
12-1 shot A Toi Phil ran on into a distant second.
Mullins and Townend were completing a treble on the day following Getabird and Coquin Mans‘ victories earlier on in the card.
Mullins said: “Paul thought he had the race won (when Doctor Phoenix fell). He said he hadn’t really gone for him and was just cruising and waiting.
“He jumped super and loves these conditions. He’s made of iron this fellow. He pulls out every day and the way he races and trains every day at home, he’s as hard as nails
“It’s going to be tough for him to go back to Punchestown, but he probably will.”