Valseur in Oaksey mix Patrick Mullins is hopeful Valseur Lido can belatedly open his account for the campaign in the bet365 Oaksey Chase at Sandown on Saturday. The seven-year-old has been campaigned exclusively at Grade One level this season and although he has failed to find the target, he has run some fine races in defeat. He kicked off the campaign by chasing home stable companion Djakadam at Punchestown, before falling when well-held in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding looked the most likely winner of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February before unseating Ruby Walsh at the final fence and he was last seen chasing home another Closutton inmate in Vautour in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. With title-chasing Willie Mullins deciding against bringing Vautour for this Grade Two event, Valseur Lido is the stable's number one hope of adding some more valuable prize-money to the kitty. Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: "Dad had some tough decisions to make and in the end he decided to leave Vautour at home to run at Punchestown, which is a very important meeting to us. "Valseur Lido was second to Vautour in Cheltenham and ran a very good race. "It's a nice race for him as because he's a second season novice, the penalties are halved, so the conditions of the race suit. "We've always felt the further he goes, the better he'll be and a stiff track like Sandown should play to his strengths. Hopefully he can do the business." The County Carlow maestro also saddles Ballycasey, who made it as far as the second-last in the Grand National at Aintree a fortnight ago before unseating Katie Walsh. "Ballycasey is at the right end of the weights and hopefully he might be able to pick up some place prize-money," Mullins added. The man Mullins is aiming to reel in as the race to be crowned champion trainer reaches its climax, Paul Nicholls, is represented by Saphir Du Rheu. Since making a successful start to the season at Carlisle, the nine-year-old has run twice over hurdles and twice over fences and while he has been disappointing on each occasion, the reigning champion is hoping he can bounce back. "I'm keen to run Saphir Du Rheu back in trip a little bit on some better ground," he told Betfair. "We're putting a pair of blinkers on to sharpen him up." Nicholls also saddles Rocky Creek and Wonderful Charm. Colin Tizzard runs the ultra-consistent Third Intention, who finished third in the Topham Chase over the National fences at Aintree last time. "He ran a cracking race in the Topham at Aintree off top-weight," the trainer told At The Races. "We were going to go to Ireland with him for the La Touche Cup, but he doesn't stay four miles. "We're going to go to Sandown and if he runs the race of his life, he'll finish third or fourth. "He's in really good nick, it's the end of the season, so we're taking him there." Last year's winner Menorah, ridden by the newly-crowned champion jockey Richard Johnson for trainer Philip Hobbs, completes the seven-runner field.
