Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh clear the last at Gowran© Photo Healy Racing
Un De Sceaux (first victory at graded level) gained his fifth win in Ireland and remained unbeaten after seven outings all told with another demolition of the opposition in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran.
Ruby Walsh 's mount made all. His jumping was a little on the ponderous side in the first half of this two miler and he was a bit awkward crossing the roadway with a circuit to go.
However from three out the 'fourteens on' chance was still moving strongly in Walsh's hands. His jumping was slick in the latter stages and he was only merely ever toying with his rivals, eventually slamming stable companion Midnight Game to the tune of sixteen lengths. Chicago was twelve lengths back in third and the only other competitor, The Four Elms came home sixty seven lengths behind.
"He did what he had to do.
"His jumping wasn't quite as fluent but he was going a steadier pace and it's nice to see that he's relaxing better in his races now.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race and we'll see what happens between now and then (Cheltenham)," said winning trainer Willie Mullins.
Meanwhile Walsh reported: "I probably wasn't letting him go fast enough early and he wasn't jumping as well.
"When we stepped it up halfway down the back he really jumped the last four or five very well.
"He won probably as expected and as he was entitled to.
"You have your stick in your right so you don't run out (when he shied at the roadway) but technically you should have your stick in the left for the gate but it's catch twenty two.
"You can't really be changing the stick around on a free horse like him. You're hoping your legs will get him around the bend.
"You don't know there is (more under the bonnet) until you go to find out but hopefully there is. Mentally he's a horse that's taken plenty of minding and looking after but the more he's enjoying it the better chance he has of progressing and the longer he might last.
"If he ran in a Champion Hurdle he wouldn't be the type to be giving fifteen (lengths) to out of the gate."
Boylesports are 10/1 unchanged about Un De Sceaux for the Champion Hurdle. Paddy Powers remained unchanged too at 12s.
Ladbrokes though were impressed going 8s from 10s. (AM & EM)
