Un De Sceaux and Ar Mad clash in Clarence House Chase at Ascot

Un De Sceaux will face five rivals when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Berkshire Community Foundation Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was a red-hot favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off the back of a superb victory in this Grade One contest 12 months ago, but proved no match for a resurgent Sprinter Sacre at Prestbury Park nor in the Celebration Chase at Sandown.But with Sprinter Sacre retired, Un De Sceaux made a successful start to the current campaign in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in early December and he is odds-on to follow up.Gary Moore's Ar Mad renews rivalry from Sandown.Having been sidelined by injury since last February, the seven-year-old ran a tremendous race from the front in the Tingle Creek before fading into fourth place.Dodging Bullets won the Tingle Creek, this race and the Champion Chase two seasons ago.The nine-year-old has not been in the same form since, but is given the chance to regain his Clarence House crown by Paul Nicholls.The Philip Hobbs-trained Royal Regatta, Kerry Lee's Top Gamble and Eastlake from Jonjo O'Neill's stable complete the field.Special Tiara and Sire De Grugy were the two withdrawals from the five-day confirmation stage.