Willie Mullins is set to veer towards Saturday's Tingle Creek Chase with his star chaser Un De Sceaux, who has also been entered for the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday afternoon.
It had been suspected that Un De Sceaux - a fine winner of the 2015 Arkle Trophy and 2016 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival - would stay on home soil to retain his Hilly Way crown, but it was reported on Tuesday evening that the ten-year-old will head to Sandown Park a day earlier to line up in the Tingle Creek and face a possible showdown with reigning Champion Chase hero Altior in what will be one of the most exciting races of this current National Hunt season.
A winner of the Tingle Creek in 2016, Un De Sceaux has been shifting between two-mile and two-and-a-half mile races over the last couple of years and many had thought that on his comeback run he would not take his chance against Altior, who will be a red-hot favourite for Saturday's Sandown showpiece and looking to cement his place as the top two-miler in training.
However, the rain-softened ground has pushed connections of Un De Sceaux to try their luck on British soil and look to regain the title they won two years ago, and the Mullins-trained inmate will add significant depth to what should be a mouth-watering contest.
Around a 6/1 shot in the ante-post betting for the race, Un De Sceaux will be attempting to show the fire still burns bright as he heads into the twilight of his career, but not only will he have to face Altior in a weekend humdinger, but Sceau Royal, Saint Calvados and Great Field are another eye-catching triumvirate of entries and that quintet should serve up one of the most memorable renewals of the Grade 1 race in recent times and it will certainly be one of the Racing Results to look out for over the weekend.
