Un De Sceaux seeking to restore reputation after rare blip in Ryanair

4.25 Fairyhouse
Devenish Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | 5yo+ | RTE2/ ATR

Not everything was going to follow the script but little did we think that Un De Sceaux would be one of the Cheltenham bankers to fluff his lines.

He was supposed to be the most trustworthy of all. The one we could all rely on in the Ryanair. He had been there, done that and bought the T-shirt. Not only that, but the skies were on his side too as he had his beloved soft ground. Everything had fallen into place. Or so we thought. Someone forgot to inform Balko Des Flos.

"I genuinely could not believe how well Davy [Russell] was going when I took a look behind at the top of the hill. I was surprised to see him going so well at that stage as I thought everything had gone to plan for us to that point," said Paul Townend, who was on board Un De Sceaux at Cheltenham and will be again in the Devenish Chase (4.25), a Grade 2 contest over 2m4f.

Watch: Un De Sceaux finishes runner-up in the Ryanair Chase

Despite being surprisingly headed before the home turn, Un De Sceaux did not throw in the towel. He could easily have fallen into a hole, as so many might have, but instead he dug deep and made Balko Des Flos pull out all the stops to secure.

"In fairness to Un De Sceaux, he never stopped trying at Cheltenham. He kept going and ran through the line. That was what impressed me most about him. This is another race on another day and hopefully he will come back to his best. He seems to be in good form at home anyway," Townend added.

Coney Island: bids to bounce back after being pulled up at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst

This is no penalty kick for Un De Sceaux, though, as standing in his way is Coney Island, a one-time leading fancy for the Cheltenham Gold Cup who is rated only 2lb inferior and is fresh having swerved a trip to the Cotswolds.

The big worry is that nothing has shown up to explain his lethargic display in the Ascot Chase, where he was the first beaten and pulled-up before the race began in earnest.

"He seems well at home and we have found no excuse for his poor run at Ascot. We are hoping that he just had one of those days. There aren't many opportunities for horses like him at this time of year so we are taking on Un De Sceaux on his terms and conditions which will not be easy. I just hope we can get our fella back on track," trainer Eddie Harty said.

In-form chaser Doctor Phoenix represents Gordon ElliottCredit: Patrick McCann

Gordon Elliott will probably be expecting the €47,200 winners' purse to be going to arch rival Willie Mullins but he does launch a two-pronged attack on the race himself with A Toi Phil and Doctor Phoenix.

Elliott said: "They both seem to be in good form and Doctor Phoenix has done us proud all season. I liked the way he came home behind Great Field and he seems to be taking his racing very well.

"A Toi Phil won't mind the ground as one of his most impressive displays was in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles on heavy ground in January so he will hopefully cope fine with it. Un De Sceaux will be a tough nut to crack, though."

Kylemore Lough's finest hour was when edging out Outlander in the 2016 Ryanair Gold Cup under Barry Geraghty for Kerry Lee. He returns to Fairyhouse two years later with a different trainer in Harry Fry and a different jockey in Noel Fehily.

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