Un De Sceaux won the Boylesports Champion Chase on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival for the second consecutive year. The eleven year old, who was landing his tenth Grade 1 win and his fourth victory at the Festival, beat stablemate Min by four lengths under Paul Townend. Making all and jumping well, he had the odds on favourite in trouble rounding the final bend before staying on too strongly for Ruby Walsh's mount.
Willie Mullins also won the Grade 1 novice novice over two miles with Klassical Dream supplementing his win in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The five year old, who is featured in the French Revolution section of One Jump Ahead, was value for more than the winning margin of five and a half lengths. Unbeaten in four starts since joining Ireland's champion trainer, he is a triple Grade 1 winner and it is hoped he is sent chasing next season. The Arkle Trophy would be his obvious target next term.
Switching codes, the Andrew Balding interview in Ahead On The Flat continues to churm out the winners. Bangkok (10/11), Beat The Bank (7/4), Sea Sculpture (6/1) and I'm Available (15/8) have all won since Friday.
Talking of Ahead On The Flat, a big thank you to my press room colleague and BBC commentator John Hunt for giving the book a favourable plug on his Twitter page this afternoon (@HuntyCaller).
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