By Andrew Atkinson
Ascot’s showdown between Defi Du Seuil and Un De Sceaux looms on Saturday, where the going is heavy, soft in places, awaiting a head-to-head in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase over 2 miles.
Six-year-old Defi Du Seuil, trained by Philip Hobbs and 11-year-old Un De Sceaux, trained by Willie Mullins, have won 30 races between them, with Mullins’ charge winner of 18 races.
A neck separated the duo at Sandown in December over 1m 7f, with Hobbs getting the upper hand on his Irish counterpart: “Everything couldn’t be better” said Hobbs.
Defi Du Seuil, running on soft ground poses a test of stamina: “The soft ground will make it more of a test of stamina – he stays two and a half miles – and has won on soft ground,” said Hobbs.
Barry Geraghty is up on selection Defi Du Seuil, a winner at Cheltenham over 1m 7f in November, prior to the Sandown success last month. Paul Townend is on board Un De Sceaux.
The G1 race, with a winning purse of £85,000 sees Defi Du Seuil in preparation of the Cheltenham Festival in March, with entries in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase: “Cheltenham is the main objective,” said Hobbs.
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