Turf Talk: Un De Sceaux chasing Clarence House Chase hat-trick

Willie Mullins’ multiple Grade One winner is chasing a hat-trick in the race and will be the first three-time winner of the two-mile-one furlong contest.

One of those victories came when the race was staged at Cheltenham last year after Ascot was deemed unraceable the week before.

Nicky Henderson has left in his novice, Brain Power, who would be having just his third run over fences. He was last seen unseating David Mullins in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Kylemore Lough could drop back down in trip for Harry Fry. He has only had one run for his new stable since leaving Kerry Lee. Lee could run Top Gamble, second to Un De Sceaux at Cork on his penultimate outing. Paul Nicholls has two possibles in the progressive Cyrname and San Benedeto.

God’s Own could be out again quickly for Tom George, having finished third behind Waiting Patiently at Kempton on Saturday, while Nigel Hawke has left bang-in-form handicapper Speredek in the mix.

While Hawke has not confirmed Speredek as a definite runner, it appears he is very tempted by the challenge. The Devon handler said: “We’re certainly looking at it. Obviously there’s one horse (Un De Sceaux) in there but we’ve got to consider it.

“It’s a likely small field. The horse is fit and well and it’s £150,000 race with prize-money down to sixth.”

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

LINGFIELD: 12.10 Perfect Illusion, 12.40 Toriano, 1.10 COUNT OTTO (NAP), 1.40 Urban Soul, 2.15 Toolatetodelegate, 2.50 Turnbury, 3.20 Soaring Spirits, 3.55 Baby Gal.

MARKET RASEN: 12.30 New Quay, 1.00 Harry Hunt, 1.30 Friday Night Light, 2.05 O O Seven, 2.40 Dissavril, 3.10 Native Robin, 3.45 Irish Octave.

NEWBURY: 1.20 Legend Lady, 1.50 Champ, 2.25 Saint Calvados (next best), 3.00 Mystical Knight, 3.30 Kupatana, 4.05 Coole Well.

NEWCASTLE: 4.00 Apalis, 4.30 Ingleby Angel, 5.00 Elixsoft, 5.30 Ode To Autumn, 6.00 Florencio, 6.30 Wiff Waff.