Mullins’ hope as final push on for Douvan

WILLIE MULLINS says the chances of Douvan making it to Cheltenham for a showdown with Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on March 14 are looking good, but the gelding faces a crucial week.

The eight-year-old has not run since last year’s Champion Chase, when he went off the 2-9 favourite but sustained a pelvic injury in defeat. Intermittent lameness, which initially seemed to have scuppered Douvan’s season, then struck in November. That problem appears to have been overcome, but Mullins (below) remains cautious.

The champion trainer said: ‘I just hope I can get him back to the form he was showing in November. I remember the morning he got the injury.

‘He did a bit of work which was awesome, but the following morning he was lame. His work is good enough at the moment but we have some hard work to do and we have to test him at some stage.’

One horse with no concerns is last year’s Ryanair winner Un De Sceaux, who is on target to bid for a repeat.

‘Un De Sceaux has done tremendously well and is in great condition, we’ve plenty to work on still for Cheltenham,’ said Mullins.

‘He’s always very strong in his work on a morning and we’re very happy. Anything can change but the Ryanair is the plan at the moment.’

Mullins, who has trained 56 Festival winners, is struggling to get Faugheen back to his best. He was pulled up over Christmas but at least ran respectably when second to Supasundae in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

‘It was great that he came out and won the Morgiana and you think everything is great,’ said Mullins, who could also saddle Melon and Wicklow Brave in the Champion Hurdle.

‘He ran a grand race the last day, a lot better than Christmas, but he’ll have to up his game to go and win in Cheltenham.’

Footpad has run well without winning at the last two Festivals but heads there this year as possibly the Mullins banker in the Arkle.

Djakadam has twice finished second in the Timico Gold Cup and is once again likely to try his luck in the Rich Ricci silks. Ruby Walsh, who has been sidelined by a broken leg since November, is now back to full fitness but there is no date yet for his return to the track. COLIN TIZZARD has ruled Fox Norton out of the Ryanair Chase after he picked up a ligament injury.