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Willie Mullins admits Un De Sceaux makes tough viewing because of his competitive nature, but feels the horse's more relaxed attitude will stand him in good stead in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

The exuberant nine-year-old steps up to two miles and five furlongs for the first time over fences at the Festival, after winning the Arkle Trophy in 2015 and finishing second to the brilliant Sprinter Sacre in the Queen Mother Champion Chase 12 months ago.

It is a move Mullins is content with, however, as Un De Sceaux has been successful over a trip over hurdles and the horse is also more amenable now.

"A horse like Un De Sceaux is hard to watch, because every day he goes out he wants to be racing, he's a bit like Hurricane Fly, he wants to be competitive," said Mullins.

"He pulls, puts his head down and wants to get on with the job. You worry that he can go out there every morning and do that without pulling a muscle or overreaching, those type of horses are harder to mind

"He won over two and a half miles on heavy ground as a four-year-old. He could get three miles now. He is keen, but I think he's settled a lot better than he used to, I think fences have settled him down and I think his last run showed how well he can settle.

"The horse is settling down as he gets older and I don't think the trip will be a problem. He's probably easier to ride in a race."

Un De Sceaux is among just eight horses declared for the Ryanair but they include Uxizandre, the winner in 2015.

Alan King's charge was plagued with injury problems after that success, but made a highly-encouraging comeback when finishing second to Un De Sceaux, beaten five lengths, in the Clarence House Chase which was switched to Cheltenham from Ascot seven weeks ago.

King believes Uxizandre, still only aged nine, retains plenty of talent.

"I think he still has all the ability he had back then," said the Barbury Castle trainer.

"I had to give him a long time off as he damaged a tendon after Cheltenham when he won. It was a long, slow process to get him back. I was delighted with his run on trials day on ground that he would have hated, but Barry (Geraghty) gave him a beautiful ride.

"He was very patient. He made a bad mistake coming down the hill and I thought that had really blown it, but he filled him up and he stayed on very well to finish second to Un De Sceaux.

"I think the good thing is that we knew we didn't have time to give him another run, so he has had seven weeks to get over it and hopefully that will take the 'bounce' factor out of the equation. His work the last 10 days has been very good.

"Mark Walsh came over and schooled him over six fences and it seemed to go very well. The more the ground dries up, the more it will suit him, as he is a much better horse on good ground."

King explained the decision behind fitting Uxizandre with sheepskin cheekpieces to try to eke that little bit more improvement in a bid to regain his crown.

He added: "He won the Ryanair Chase in a visor for the first time. He didn't wear anything on trials day. He will go in cheekpieces this time and the visor is up my sleeve if we need it later in the year."

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has yet to win the race and this year has two prominent fancies sporting his colours in Irish Gold Cup runner-up Empire Of Dirt and the useful Sub Lieutenant, who was third in the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

O'Leary said: "I think the Ryanair is the logical race for Empire Of Dirt to go in. I would love to win it, I've spent 10 years trying to without any great success.

"With Sub Lieutenant and Empire Of Dirt we'll have a reasonable team."

Vaniteux exited two out when chasing home Douvan in the last year's Arkle Trophy and trainer Nicky Henderson rates the eight-year-old as an each-way prospect.

"I think this is a very good Ryanair," said the Seven Barrows trainer.

"He was on Douvan's tail at the second-last in last year's Arkle. He then made a little error and parted company with Nico (De Boinville).

"He wants two and a half, dropping in and wants good ground.

"Vaniteux is very sharp at the moment. He has had one run at two and a half over fences and he was very good. He has an each-way chance."