Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Un De Sceaux justified prohibitive odds at Punchestown when taking the Ryanair Novice Chase in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
The French-bred gelding may not have been as flamboyant as usual but it still brought his winning tally to 13, with the only career blemish coming when a faller at Thurles earlier this season.
The 1/10 favourite adopted his customary front-running tactics to record a third Grade 1 win over fences this term, although the Mickey Hammond raider Just Cameron never let him get too far clear.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding needed to be pushed out to score by three lengths, with Ted Veale taking third. Smashing had to be withdrawn beforehand after bolting on the way to the start under Johnny Burke.
Mullins said, "That ground is plenty fast enough and I'm not sure I'd want to run on ground that fast again. I was a bit concerned how he was jumping a few fences away from the stands. He was going out to the left a bit and climbing one or two.
"We'll put him away now and go down the Champion Chase route next year.
"When the other horse came to him at the last Ruby had to shake him up but when he did shake him up he was fine. He wasn't too keen on the ground.
"I thought he made one or two errors and wasn't jumping half as well as he did at Cheltenham. I think he was just feeling the ground. All horses have their pressures but he's a tough horse to watch with his style of racing.
"I'm happy to get out to grass with him, and we'll try and work back from the spring next season.
"He had the potential after his hurdling experience and answered the calling everyday except for Thurles.
"It's never good to see them fall and although that probably taught him a little manners you'd hope he could learn that without falling."
Ruby Walsh is currently five ahead (76-71) of Mark Walsh, who enjoyed a double on the day with Jacksonslady and Jezki in the jockey's championship.
