Un De Sceaux win at Cheltenham would be perfect birthday gift for Colm O’Connell

For most people lucky enough to have a birthday coinciding with the Cheltenham Festival a pair of tickets to the meeting is a valued present — but Colm O’Connell might just enjoy the best celebration of all, a Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase win for Un De Sceaux.

Owner of the brilliant two-miler along with his father, Edward, O’Connell admits it has been a fraught few weeks as seemingly one after another of his exalted stablemates bit the dust.

First it was JLT favourite Killultagh Vic, then most shatteringly of all 2015 champion hurdler, Faugheen.