Sceaux in 'terrific order' ahead of Cheltenham

Cheltenham and the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase can barely come quick enough for Willie Mullins with Un De Sceaux

The dashing front-runner is set for potentially the clash of the meeting on the second day of the Festival as he crosses swords with former two-mile king Sprinter Sacre who has been resurgent this season.

Un De Sceaux made amends for a fall at Christmas with a dominant display in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January, and has Mullins "counting down the days".

The trainer said: "He seems in great form. I would love it if the race was tomorrow. I'm just counting down the days with him, he's in terrific order.

"We'll probably do a school on a racetrack somewhere before we go (to Cheltenham).

"What I loved about Ascot was the manner of his racing. He switched off and settled and looked at his fences and jumped them, rather than going down and flying out over them.

"Sometimes with a horse like him they just get faster and faster until they blow their lid, but he seems to be coming around now, which is good."

Mullins also confirmed stablemate Felix Yonger would take his chance in the race.