Un De Sceaux won the Racing Post Arkle at Cheltenham

Tuesday 10 March 2015 18:56, UK

Un De Sceaux lived up to his billing as he duly landed the odds in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old, sent off 4/6 favourite, made every yard of the running and found plenty up the hill after looking like meeting a serious challenge from eventual runner-up God's Own.

Ruby Walsh was able to keep the sometimes tearaway gelding under control in the early stages, never leading by too far as he faced the tough Cheltenham fences for the first time.

He got in close to a couple, and made a small mistake two out, when God's Own loomed up alongside as a major danger after Vibrato Valtat began to fade.

The Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux led by about a length jumping the last, with God's Own (33/1) drifting to his right, and he stormed up the hill to score impressively by six lengths and add to the Mullins team's victory with Douvan in the Supreme.

Josses Hill (12/1) stayed on to take third spot, two lengths away, as the bookmakers began to lick their wounds after victories from the first two of Mullins' big four on the first day.

Walsh said: "He has got a turn of foot. I wasn't going that hard and I knew that when I gave him a squeeze he would quicken up and he's pinged the last.

"He didn't come to the Festival last year, he went to France twice, and you can see it's made a man of him.

"He's not an easy horse and they have minded and nurtured him. They've done a great job. I rode Master Minded and Azertyiuop so going that speed is nothing new to me."

Image: Horses make their way back from the morning gallops
Image: There's time to soak up the sun and have a pick of grass before the action gets underway
Image: There's a relative hive of activity at the stables
Image: The 'At the Races Express' arrives at the racecourse
Image: The passengers disembark on a glorious spring day
Image: Inside the track, the Guinness already flows
Image: Time for a little last minute form study, will these three wise men be following the star?
Image: Douvan ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps on the way to winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Image: There's no feeling like getting that first winner under your belt
Image: It's a swift double for Walsh and Willie Mullins as Un De Sceaux makes all in the Racing Post Arkle
Image: Un De Sceaux was driven out to hold the rallying God's Own at bay
Image: More celebrations for Walsh as he returns to the famous winner's enclosure
Image: The Druids Nephew and Barry Geraghty have the field trailing in their wake
Image: And kick clear up the hill to score convincingly
Image: It's time to soak up the applause
Image: Ruby Walsh and Faugheen have an early lead in the Stan James Champion Hurdle
Image: And go on to lead his rivals a merry dance
Image: We've seen this shot somewhere before haven't we?
Image: Ruby, Ruby, Ruby................
Image: But he was brought crashing down to earth in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle as Annie Power got the last all wrong
Image: It's heart in mouth time for her watching fans but fortunately both she and Ruby Walsh appeared to emerge unscathed
Image: Stablemate Glens Melody takes advantage to land the spoils
Image: Paul Townend celebrates alongside second placed pair Polly Peachum and Barry Geraghty
Image: Jamie Codd riding Cause Of Causes (second from left) wins the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in the JP McManus silks
Image: Cause Of Causes' trainer Gordon Elliott lands another blow for the Irish
Image: Paul Townend on Irish Cavalier after winning the concluding CHAPS Restaurant barbados Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham

Mullins said: "It was just fantastic. He was very clever. He jumped the first two nicely and settled into a rhythm in his jumping.

"He jumped the water very easy, probably the first time he'd jumped one in his life, then came to the ditch which is a big test for a novice after the water. He pricked his ears and flew it again.

"I got a fright when God's Own came up beside him, but Ruby sat and then he just flew up the hill.

"He's not a typical racehorse and I don't think he's any pedigree, either, which is extraordinary. He is what we call a pure freak."

Mullins hopes to take Un De Sceaux to Punchestown next and he added: "He was very good with his jumping, he's improved so much. He jumped like he was a handicapper the whole way round. Ruby thought he settled better today.

"He's getting more mature with each race. He set himself up for the fences rather than getting Ruby to do it.

"Some people like to go to Grade One races with a horse when they're not ready, but I'm not keen on doing that. A jumper's career is over many years and I don't want it all at once, you have to let them mature and come round. Today it had paid off. I want them to go up the steps of the ladder one by one."

Tom George was delighted with the runner-up, and he added: "That isn't a fluke, he was a Grade One winner last year when he beat Champagne Fever and a few others.

"We had a blip in mid-winter but he simply can't go on soft ground . We won't even try running him on soft ground next year, good to soft is as bad as he wants it.

"We will look at Aintree and Punchestown now, see where the best ground is and looking at that he will get two and a half miles."

Nicky Henderson was satisfied with Josses Hill and felt a sound pace had brought out the best in his runner.

He said: "He's run a great race. Fair play to Barry (Geraghty), he always said he would jump better in a faster run race. The quicker pace just helps his impulsion - when they are going slower he's too brave.

"I don't know where we will go next, we could go two and a half miles, but I think Ruby should be fined for speeding!"

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