Un De Sceaux could take on Game Spirit after sidestepping Clarence House

The Game Spirit at Newbury and the Ascot Chase are two possible targets for the eleven-year-old.

However, the ground will need to be on the soft side wherever he goes after trainer Willie Mullins pulled his star out of Saturday's Grade 1 due to unsuitable conditions.

The eleven-year-old would have attempted an unprecedented four-timer in the contest but will instead venture elsewhere.

Part-owner Colm O'Connell said: "When the going report came this morning of good to soft and there was no real rain coming, it just wasn't going to be soft enough, and the frost is another problem.

"It just wasn't meant to be. I wish the next generation all the best in trying to achieve four wins in the Clarence House, but unfortunately it won't be us.

"We've been aiming at this race since the summer as we wanted to create history. Last year he was swimming in mud coming round Swinley Bottom, and the year before the race had to be run at Cheltenham because of frost. Yesterday I was walking around without a coat, it's crazy weather."

"We'll try to get a run into him somewhere. There's the Game Spirit, the race (Ascot Chase) over two miles and a half miles Waiting Patiently won last year, or he could go to Leopardstown, but that means taking on stable companions which is never ideal.

"That's racing and it's a brave call from Willie. But that's why in my opinion he is the best in the business, because he makes calls the rest of us don't have the courage to make.

"He did the same when Un De Sceaux was a young horse regarding the Champion Hurdle. If he'd run him, I doubt very much we'd still be here talking about him as a Grade One horse as an 11-year-old."

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