Heavy ground no concern as Defi Du Seuil ready for latest Un De Sceaux battle

3.35 Ascot
Matchbook Clarence House Chase | Grade 1 | 2m1f | 5yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Philip Hobbs is not worried about the heavy ground at Ascot for Defi Du Seuil as he clashes with superstar veteran Un De Sceaux in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase.

Defi Du Seuil won his first duel with Un De Sceaux in an enthralling Tingle Creek clash at Sandown last month, although JP McManus's seven-year-old, five years younger than his rival, was seemingly value for more than the neck winning margin.

The same two protagonists meet again at Ascot, with Defi Du Seuil odds-on to confirm his superiority against Un De Sceaux, the only horse to win the Clarence House three times.

Defi Du Seuil: back in action in the Clarence House ChaseCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

However, one significant variance from Sandown to Ascot is the conditions will be more testing. Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickles changed the going to heavy on Friday morning after 11mm of rain fell at the Berkshire course overnight, and Defi Du Seuil, winner of six Grade 1 races, has never raced on ground officially described as heavy.

However, Hobbs said: "I don’t think the heavy ground is a concern because he copes with any ground, as he showed in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow when he won the Grade 1 there. That was desperate ground that day, so he’ll cope."

The trainer reiterated earlier this week that any decision on Defi Du Seuil's Cheltenham Festival target – he won the Triumph Hurdle in 2017 and the JLT Novices' Chase at the prestigious meeting last year – would not be taken until as late as possible.

He is a best price of 7-2 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase while 8-1 is available for the longer trip of the Ryanair, although both prices are likely to shorten if Defi Du Seuil extends his winning run.

However, as for the here and now, Hobbs is delighted with how Defi Du Seuil has bounced out of his exertions at Sandown and feels he is in fine form for his Ascot assignment.

He said: "It’s very much gone to plan since his last run – he’s in good form. We’ll see how the race works out.

"It ought to be close again with Un De Sceaux, who's been a fantastic horse for a long time – it's amazing how he's kept going for so long. He's obviously a horse to be feared but, at the same time, we beat him last time and I hope we might again."

Un De Sceaux did not run in the Clarence House last year but has an unblemished record of three wins in the race between 2016 and 2018, with the middle win of the sequence coming at the race's temporary home of Cheltenham.

Un De Sceaux: three-time winner of the Clarence House ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

A fourth success would be historic and his trainer Willie Mullins is hopeful about the 12-year-old's chances.

"He's got plenty going for him," said Mullins. "We know he handles the track well and he'll have the testing ground he relishes. So we're very hopeful of another big run and, fingers crossed, he can turn the tables on the favourite."

What they say

Harry Derham, assistant to Paul Nicholls, trainer of Capeland
We’re under no illusions the big two are very good horses and will be extremely hard to beat, but Capeland acts well around Ascot and there’s a lot of prize-money all the way down, so that’s why we’re there. Hopefully he’ll run his race.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Janika
Janika wears a tongue-tie for the first time. There's nothing wrong with his wind though, and it's just a hunch that it will help him this heavy ground. The Exeter win was a very good performance, and I see we aren't far behind Defi Du Seuil and Un De Sceaux on official ratings, but I'm not going to tell you we're going to beat them. We are chasing place money.

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