FOX Norton and Un De Sceaux lock horns in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the BoyleSports Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival tomorrow (5.30pm).
Colin Tizzard-trained Fox Norton was narrowly denied by Special Tiara in a pulsating climax to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham before running away with the Melling Chase at Aintree.
Milborne Port-based Tizzard is happy to send his seven-year-old into battle once more tomorrow after he missed a good chunk of the season with injury.
“He arrived over there on Saturday and he’s settled in absolutely fine,” said Tizzard.
“I’m sure the ground will be good and two of the best runs of his life have been at Cheltenham and Aintree on good ground, so I don’t think that will be a problem.
“I know he’s done Cheltenham and Aintree, but he did have three months off during the winter, so I think he’s still a fresh horse.
“It’s a Grade One and a proper race. We’ll have to be right on our game to win, but the others will have to be right on their game to beat us.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux is three from three this season and looked better than ever when dominating his rivals in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last month.
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