Trailblazing Un De Sceaux set for chasing debut

Updated: Wednesday, 26 Nov 2014 15:05 | Comments Un De Sceaux and stablemate Vautour are vying for favouritism for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh believes Un De Sceaux will take chasing in his stride ahead of his first run over fences in the Killinan Beginners' Chase at Thurles tomorrow.

The six-year-old is already one of the favourites for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, without ever having jumped a fence in public.

His Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Vautour made a breathtaking debut over fences on Sunday and the pair look to be two of the most exciting recruits to chasing for some time.

Un De Sceaux is unbeaten in nine outings and signed off last season by winning two Graded races at Auteuil.

The inveterate front-runner won many fans with his exuberant style over hurdles, something Walsh does not expect to change now he goes over fences.

Walsh told Racing UK: "I imagine it will be fast and furious as he likes to get on with it.

"His schooling has been pretty much like Vautour's and hopefully he can do the same when he goes to the track.

"You're a bit of a passenger on his back, but I was quite taken with the way he jumped hurdles in Auteuil and so was Barry Geraghty (who rode him to win in March), obviously they are bigger than the hurdles in England and Ireland.

"The way he jumped at Auteuil, you'd say fences won't be a problem. In fairness to him, as keen as he is, he is quite intelligent so hopefully he'll be the same (over fences).

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Trailblazing Un De Sceaux set for chasing debut