Douvan bids to eclipse Altior in Champion
DOUVAN will aim to banish bitter memories and prove he is the ultimate comeback king when making his eagerlyawaited return to action in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has not been sighted since since suffering a shock defeat in the two-mile showpiece 12 months ago, where it was discovered he had sustained a stress fracture to his pelvis.
It was feared the Rich Ricciowned gelding would be out for the campaign after meeting with a different setback in the run-up to the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.
Mullins said: “It was very disappointing when we found he wasn’t right and it looked like he was out for the season.
“Within a week or 10 days he was sound when we thought he shouldn’t have been so we had him reinvestigated. There was obviously something there but something he can live with, it might come up when he runs, we just don’t know.
“I remember the morning he got the injury he did a bit of work and it was awesome and then the following morning he was lame. Whether he’ll get back to how he worked that day I don’t know. That was the fastest bit I’d ever seen but I told the lads I didn’t want to see him do that again and to keep it for the track!”
Having made a quicker than expected recovery from his latest problem, the eight-time Grade One winner is on course to restore his reputation and add to his previous Cheltenham Festival victories in the 2016 Arkle and the 2015 Supreme Novices.
Mullins’ son and assistant Patrick added: “It is an unenviable task as Altior is a formidable opponent to take on without a prep run. Looking back, Arctic Fire came here and won a County Hurdle without a prep run off top weight and Quevega did it for a good few years as well. If any horse can do it Douvan can.”
The Closutton handler will also be represented by Min, who like Douvan is owned by Ricci.
Mullins jnr said: “We purposely changed the tactics last time out and that seemed to help. He was beaten seven lengths by Altior in the Supreme and if the real Altior turns up it will be hard to reverse that.”