Un De Sceaux well fancied for Queen Mother Champion Chase glory

Secondly, his mount Ruby Walsh normally sends him out to make all, but he might have some competition for the lead from fellow Irish raider Special Tiara (10/1).

Henry de Bromhead’s charge is fancied to make the running after leading for most of the way in the Tingle Creek before being badly hampered at the last and finishing a diminishing length behind Sire de Grugy in December.

This may not suit Un De Sceaux, but if Walsh manages to settle him early rather than taking Special Tiara on for the lead it shouldn’t be a decisive factor.

A Mullins 1-2?

Mullins withdrew Vautour, the antepost second-favourite, in favour of saddling Felix Younger (14/1), who has strong each-way claims having won both races since his seasonal reappearance, and proving particularly effective over the shorter two-mile trip.

Given the likely early pace from Special Tiara and Felix Younger’s proven stamina over two-and-a-half miles, we may see him staying on to give the Kilkenny handler a 1-2 in the most prestigious chase of the week.

However, he still has an entry in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday so it may be left to the two 10-year-olds, Sire de Grugy and Sprinter Sacre, to challenge Un De Sceaux for the crown.

Will we see a champion of old return to form?

The closest challenger in the market is Sprinter Sacre who has suffered a number of setbacks resulting in him pulling up here last year.

Despite these injuries, it seems Nicky Henderson has got him somewhere near his best again following a brilliant reappearance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, before grinding out the final furlong to beat his old rival Sire de Grugy by three parts of length in the Desert Orchid.

Both of these household names would be extremely popular winners given their past successes in the race, but it would be no surprise to see the in-form Nicholls go close with last year’s victor.

Dodging Bullets was beaten on his reappearance by rookie trainer Kerry Lee’s Top Gamble. However, this run will have done the 2015 champion a world of good and no doubt Nicholls will have him primed for this as we could witness the first successive winner of the race since 2009 when he claimed it with Master Minded.

Doom Bar Chase winner Sizing Granite (20/1), veteran Somersby (40/1) and rank outsider Just Cameron (100/1) make up the 10-strong field.

Should Ruby Walsh be unable to stay on his hugely talented, but erratic, mount then we may see an old Cheltenham hero get cheered into the winner’s enclosure.

Un De Sceaux undeniably has the ability to win this and we may see him obliterate his rivals, however there is enough class in this field to potentially make it the race of the Festival.

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