The popular chaser Un De Sceaux, who won 10 Grade 1 races for trainer Willie Mullins, has been retired. He suffered a ligament injury.
At his best, the 12 year old was an electric chaser. Usually he old had one way of running, to go out in front and burn off his rivals. Usually it worked.
The horse was bought in France and burst onto the scene with a scintillating success in the 2015 Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival under jockey Ruby Walsh.
He would go on to win the Ryanair Chase at the Festival, two Champion Chases at Punchestown, while the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown is also on his roll of honour.
Owned by the O'Connell family, Un De Sceaux won 23 of his 34 starts under rules.
The one race that eluded him was the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He ran into the Nicky Henderon trained Sprinter Sacre at his best in the 2016 renewal.
Un De Sceaux's well being was demonstrated only recently, when he finished second behind Defi De Seuil in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
The horse earned over €1 million in prize money in a distinguished career on the turf.
Mullins' main speed chaser in 2020 appears to be Chacun Pour Soi.
