Willie Mullins enters formidable trio for Celebration Chase at Sandown

Un De Sceaux, Vautour and Douvan have all been entered in Saturday's Bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown by title-chasing trainer Willie Mullins.

The Closutton handler is locked in a thrilling battle for the championship with Paul Nicholls, who also has three possibles at this stage.

Mullins' Champion Chase runner-up Un De Sceaux would appear to be the obvious contender, although Douvan has dominated the two-mile novice scene this term, winning the Arkle in fine style at Cheltenham before trouncing his rivals at Aintree.

Vautour landed the Ryanair Chase at the Festival and he is also entered in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown.

Un De Sceaux finished behind comeback king Sprinter Sacre in the Champion Chase and Nicky Henderson's two-mile star is also in the reckoning for this race.

Nicholls has entered former champion Dodging Bullets, Grand Annual winner Solar Impulse and Ulck Du Lin.

Another Champion Chase winner in Sire De Grugy, the consistent Special Tiara and Kerry Lee's Top Gamble make up 10 entries.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper has already watered parts of the Sandown track in preparation for Saturday's key fixture with the ground drying out daily.

"The ground is currently just on the slow side of good generally but good in some places. We've already watered the quicker bits which if we hadn't would be verging on good to firm," said Cooper.

"No one really wants to do it but you don't want anything quicker than good ground, either.

"We've been dry since Friday and it could be a completely dry week. There's a bit of uncertainty about Friday and patchy showers on Saturday but we could quite easily miss it all.

"Realistically we were only ever going to get one of Sprinter Sacre and Un De Sceaux as they both prefer completely different ground.

"We'll try to keep it as close to good ground as possible but we look set fair for a cracking two days.

"Friday's card also looks set to be very good with the Gordon Richards and the Sandown Mile, not to mention Midday's colt Midterm in the Classic trial."