Despite first Punchestown defeat, Un De Sceaux is one to be celebrated
Un De Sceaux is one of national hunt racing’s most mesmerising jumpers and should be celebrated as such.
The term ‘a once in a lifetime horse’ is something that doesn’t get thrown around lightly in racing circles. When we use this phrase it is generally when looking back on the exceptional careers of some of the greats such as Red Rum, Kauto Star, Sprinter Sacre and Big Bucks. For good reasoning it isn’t something we brand any ordinary Grade 1 winner with. You have to have something about you, that little bit of something special that makes people sit back and go ‘wow, that was impressive’.
For me, Un De Sceaux is a horse that ticks all them boxes time and time again. He’s a horse that when he takes a fence I'm struck with a sense of excitement and awe unparalleled to many others in the sport. I often find myself thinking ‘how has he gone and done that’.
He’s a horse that I have followed from the beginning of his career and ever since his first race in Ireland (Punchestown, 20/02/13) where he won a maiden Hurdle by six lengths, I've been hooked. Despite his much maligned start to his career after a couple of wobbly rounds of jumping and albeit a few falls, he has been sublime to watch. He’s bold at a fence, deceivingly quick and incredibly unpredictable at times. What more could you want in a national hunt race horse?
People tend to forget that the horse has only raced 20 times in his short career to date, notching up fourteen wins. Seven of these have been at Grade 1 level. When staying up he has only ever been beaten three times, twice to the above mentioned Sprinter Sacre, back to back at Cheltenham and Sandown in 2016. Two fascinating races that he eventually conceded to one of the best chasers of all time.
The only other time was yesterday, in the BoyleSports Champion Chase. In typical Un De Sceaux fashion he led from the beginning, was brave at his fences and set the pace for the entirety of the race. Unlucky for him, he ran into a progressive horse and a jockey who is having the best year of his life in the shape of Robbie Power and Fox Norton.
He was out-jumped at the final fence and the Potts owned horse was able to outstay him to the line. As a punter and a fan of the horse I can accept this one as he looked to run out of steam coming off the back of a Ryanair Chase win at Cheltenham. You can draw a line through this one. Nine times out of ten he puts this race to bed earlier than Fox Norton allowed him to yesterday and he is claiming his eight grade one of his career.
Prior to this defeat he was three from three this season, dominating all opponents who he came up against. This was his first ever defeat at Punchestown, a track that he generally loves.
I firmly believe it’s too early to make a case that he is passed his best and owner Edward O’Connell will surely be over the moon when they sit down to review this year’s campaign. With a wide open Champion Chase on the cards for next year at Cheltenham where Douvan and Altior look to take each other on, Un De Sceaux is a horse who can now go under the radar to a degree and look to pick up the pieces at his optimum two mile trip.
He has looked a completely different horse this year and looks to have put the all round mad bastard tendencies he once had to one side. He has rekindled his devastating jumping and front running ability this season and one can only expect him to take even further steps next season in his quest for more grade ones.
Already a winner of an Arkle and a Ryanair at the Cheltenham festival as well as a French Champion Hurdle for Willie Mullins, he is sure to want more. Many believe he would have won this years Queen Mother Champion Chase had he been entered however connections chose to go elsewhere. Next year may well be a different story.
Un De Sceaux is a ‘once in a lifetime’ horse, it is time for the doubting to end, it’s time for him to be celebrated.
