Veteran Sceau Royal breaks new ground at Ascot on Saturday

November 23

With his 12th birthday only 37 days away, one might assume that this will be Sceau Royal‘s last season on the track, but Barbury’s ‘golden oldie’, who runs his 53rd race on Saturday, should never be written off.
Successful no fewer than 17 times, Sceau Royal has encountered 19 different racecourses on his travels, but he experiences Ascot for the first time this week-end in the five-runner Coral Hurdle.
Alan said:”Sceau Royal has been a legend over nine seasons with us, and I just wish I could turn the clock back. He ran pretty well on his return at Kempton considering that he finds two miles too sharp these days.

“The winner, Rubaud, franked the form when following up in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, and, though Sceau Royal has won six times over fences, he is now happier over the smaller obstacles.”

We are also involved at Huntingdon and Haydock on Saturday with Emitom heading up the M6 for the £125,000 Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle. Alan added:”He has an issue with a hock after winning at Newbury early on last season, but he ran well for a long way when runner-up on his comeback over the same course 16 days ago, and that race will have put him spot on for this.”

Our other Saturday runner is Hey Brother in the maiden hurdle at Huntingdon. Alan said:”He disappointed me at Wetherby last time, but he got tired in the testing conditions and is worth another chance on better ground. He ran well in a bumper over this course in April.”

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