Willie Mullins feels Un De Sceaux is now ready to take on top-class opposition over fences with the approach of Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old had a perfect record over hurdles, with five straight wins, but fell on his jumping debut at Thurles last November.
He then put that right at Fairyhouse on December 20 with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Beginners Chase.
Next up for the son of Denham Red is a trip to Leopardstown on Sunday for the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase, although connections have made contingency plans in case conditions do not suit.
Un De Sceaux has also been entered in the Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on Saturday but Mullins feels it is time he took on the big boys.
“The plan is to come to Leopardstown,” he told At The Races. “He’s in there, he’s in Doncaster. I just stuck him in because there are so few two-mile races just in case the weather acts up here or there so we just have a choice.
“We’ve been avoiding the issue with Un De Sceaux and going round the place in his hurdling career, but now we going to let him run in Grade One races to see what happens.”
