FAVOURITE UN DE Sceaux secured a memorable win to beat Sire De Grugy in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown this afternoon.
Ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins, the 5/4 shot edged to victory in a thrilling climax. God’s Own finished strongly to come third, with Ar Mad in fourth.
Speaking after the race, Walsh paid tribute to his rival in a thrilling encounter.
“It’s a great race to be part of and I’ve ridden some wonderful horses in it, I’ve been very lucky,” Walsh said.
“Being the champion that he is, Sire De Grugy served it up to us, I got back on top going to the last and when I got hold of him he started to rally all the way to the line, and he’s won over further.
“This horse wears his heart on his sleeve, he just has that natural will to win. It’s brilliant. He’s a pleasure to ride.”
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Earlier in the day, 2-7 favourite Altior stormed to victory in the Racing Post Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, his first success since the Nicky Henderson-trained horse switched to fences.
Jockey Noel Fehily said the blistering finish from Altior was the most pleasing aspect of his victory.
“I thought he was very good in the second half of the race, he launched at the ditch the first time and he launched at one down the back, but I spent so much time trying to switch him off that maybe I might have let him go a bit cold on me,” the Cork man said.
“When I switched him back on he jumped great the second half. I was most impressed with him going to the last, I was a length down, he winged it and in two strides he was three lengths clear.
“I thought it was very impressive.”
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