Willie Mullins has praised the career of Un De Sceaux as the gelding left the Irish handler’s yard and returned to France.
Un De Sceaux enjoyed an incredible racing career, winning 23 of 34 races under rules, and the French-bred racehorse will go down in National Hunt history as a top performer over recent years.
The 12-year-old is a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner, having landed the Arkle in 2015 and the Ryanair in 2017, while he triumphed three times in the Clarence House Chase and twice in the Punchestown Champion Chase.
Mullins confirmed Un De Sceaux’s retirement back in February after a ligament problem was discovered in the wake of a piece of work in preparation for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Prestbury Park.
The sire to Denham Red, who finished outside the first two just once in 21 completed runs over fences, has now left Mullins’ yard for the last time and gone back to France.
Tweeting about the departure, Mullins said: “Un De Sceaux is leaving us today for his new life in France. A horse with a remarkable attitude & a will to win like no other, he will be really missed around the yard.
“You can’t replace horses like him ? it’s impossible. He was a once-in-a-lifetime horse, and we were very lucky to have him.”
