MULLINS’ DOUVAN FEARS

AS UN De Sceaux led 34 horses on the Carlow gallops of Willie Mullins yesterday, the chief talking point was the absence of Douvan. The eight-year-old chaser is lame in his off-fore and Mullins is awaiting a veterinary report. ‘There’s nothing obvious to see, it might be a stress fracture or a little ligament tear,’ the trainer said. ‘He’s had a scan and an x-ray. We’ll know in a day or two.’ Douvan missed a year between the Cheltenham Festivals of 2017 to 2018 but had been flying at home before this set-back. Mullins (right) has had 61 Cheltenham Festival winners, and all roads from Closutton lead to the Cotswolds in March where the Gold Cup is a prime target. He has been second six times since 2000 and is resolute about landing the biggest prize in jump racing. While it’s early in the season, he may have four genuine contenders — Footpad, Bellshill, Yorkhill and Al Boum Photo. His Champion Hurdle hand is strong, too, headed by Melon, beaten a neck by Buveur D’Air in March, and the Laurina, the Mares’ Hurdle winner at Cheltenham. Mullins claims Laurina is ‘something special’. ‘She could go novice chasing but we’re going down the Champion Hurdle route.’ Among the Festival fancies, the Aintree Grand National aspirants, was Faugheen. At 10, there is plenty of spark left in ‘The Machine’ who may be aimed at the Stayers’ Hurdle this year. Because of the dry autumn, Mullins has yet to unleash his artillery on the National Hunt season. ‘It’s Ireland. Rain will come soon, and the season will be long enough when we get going,’ he said.