Douvan to deliver Champion performance

BETTING takes a back seat when there is a brilliant horse on show and that is certainly the case with Douvan, who can live up to his top billing in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

While many star names are missing from the Festival, the Willie Mullinstrained Douvan is the one that National Hunt fans cannot wait to see strut his stuff.

Douvan has won at the last two Festivals, in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Arkle, and provided he puts in his usual sound round of jumping then he should outclass the opposition.

He is nine out of nine over fences and looked as good as ever when strolling home in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown last month in his last public appearance.

With Douvan certain to go off at long odds-on, there may be each-way value in Special Tiara for a place.

Henry Bromhead’s runner was third to Sprinter Sacre 12 months ago and can be excused his last performance behind Un De Sceaux on this course as he would have hated the testing ground. Special Tiara is a better horse when spring arrives.

Alpha Des Obeaux found only Thistlecrack too good in last year’s World Hurdle and the Irish raider is fancied to go one better in the RSA Chase.

Mouse Morris’ charge is clearly suited by the better ground conditions in the spring and by three miles.

However, the only time he has run over that trip over fences was a big disappointment as he broke a blood vessel in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and was pulled up.

Morris has since given Alpha Des Obeaux a clean bill of health and seems quite keen on the seven-year-old’s prospects. His overall profile gives him a big chance.

Tombstone ruffled a few feathers when overturning Jezki in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park last month to emerge as a leading contender for the Coral Cup.

Though that race was over two miles, there is no reason why he shouldn’t stay the two-mile-five of this helter skelter of a handicap hurdle.

He ran a blinder in last year’s Supreme, staying on strongly to take fourth place behind Altior to suggest a longer trip would hold no fears for the Gordon Elliotttrained seven-year-old, who did look like going for the Champion Hurdle before being given a tempting mark for this.

Neon Wolf is seen by many as a banker having created an almighty impression visually when winning his only two starts over hurdles to date at Exeter and Haydock.

His performance at the latter track had Cheltenham written all over it and Harry Fry’s six-year-old will surely be hard to beat in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

Dino Velvet looks on a good mark to make his presence felt in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

He appeared promising when running out an eight-length winner at Sandown back in December before finding Grade One company completely beyond him at Chepstow at Christmas.

His three-length second behind Don Bersy at Warwick in January reads particularly well and while he was well beaten at Ludlow last time, he sneaks in here off a low weight and could well rise to the challenge.

2-1fav Tracked leaders, tracked clear leader 9f out, closed 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Stoneham at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-65 (6). 20-1 Chased leader until 10f out, chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, rallied over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Lugano at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) in Oct. 6-1 Close up, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Bell Weir at Ayr 1m 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gs in Aug. 16-1 Dwelt, behind, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 9l behind Hazely at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) in Oct. 7-1 Held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 13l behind Kingthistle at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) in Dec. (18) E Dunlop 9-5 (BF) (200)BHaslam9-5 (152) K Ryan 9-5 (207) M Johnston 9-5 (23) K Dalgleish 9-0 (6) K Dalgleish 9-0 BETTING: 8-11 Oud Metha Bridge, 2 The Grey Warrior, 14 Zacchetto, 16 Prancing Oscar, 20 Play With Me, 25 R U Mine.

5-4fav Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on when hard pressed final 100 yards, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mori Yoshinari at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Feb. 25-1 Prominent, ridden 2f out, one pace in 4th when carried left over 1f out, no impression with leaders final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Baashiq at Redcar 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct. 25-1 Soon outpaced, always behind, eased final 2f, last of 11, 34l behind Double Touch at Chester 7f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Aug. 33-1 Mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 9, 8l behind Davy’s Dilemma at Redcar 7f nov med aut stk (5) gs in Aug. 11-1 Chased leader, hung right from 3 out, hung badly right on home turn, soon behind and eased, last of 5, 26l behind Blue Bahia at Wolverhampton 7f mdn fll (5) in Feb. 16-1 Pushed along and struggling halfway, always behind, last of 5, 18l behind Rutherford at Newcastle 7f 3yo mdn fll (5). (14) R Cowell 9-7 (CD) ............................ L Morris (134) K Dalgleish 9-7 ......................... C Beasley (19) R Fahey 8-13 (C) ..................... T Hamilton (26) Mrs A Duffield 8-13 ................. G Lee (26) T D Barron 8-13 (CD) .................. S De Sousa (16) P Evans 8-10 (D3) ................... J F Egan (33)SAHarris8-6 .......... RPWalsh(7) BETTING: 11-8 Fiery Spice, 7-2 Little Nosegay, 6 Scotch Myst, 7 Lady Molly, 8 Zandradee, 12 Highly Focussed, 20 Mesmeric Moment. DEEP CHALLENGER (317) J Osborne 5 10-0 ......... D Sweeney HOUSE OF FRAUDS (54) A Newcombe 9 10-0 ......... T Clark (3) SO HAPPY M Johnston 4 10-0 ................................. J Fanning MOMENTORI (285)SDixon49-9 ............................. KO’Neill CLOCK CHIMES (6) D Brown 3 8-12 .......................... T Durcan INVINCIBLE MAN (26) J Tate 3 8-12 .......................... L Morris IT’S HOW WE ROLL (20) C Hills 3 8-12 ........................... G Lee MOUNT CLESHAR (16) J Butler 3 8-12 ................. S Donohoe EJABAH (105) C Smith 3 8-7 ...................................... J Haynes HUDDERSFILLY TOWN (13) I Furtado 3 8-7 ......... S De Sousa SEEKING ATTENTION (56) G Scott 3 8-7 .......... Oisin Murphy BETTING: 11-4 Clock Chimes, 4 Invincible Man, 9-2 Deep Challenger, 5 So Happy, 6 It’s How We Roll, 10 Seeking Attention, 12 Huddersfilly Town, 20 Ejabah, 50 Others.

6-1 Close up, ridden over 2f out, headway to chase winner over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 7, 5l behind He’s A Lad at Southwell 1m mdn auc stks (5) fbs. 10-3 Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Tricorn at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) in Feb. 13-2 Prominent, 3rd halfway, ridden in 7th 2f out and no impression in 6th over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 22, 10l behind Rose De Pierre at Curragh 1m mdn stks sft in May. Fastnet Rock gelding out of Slieve Mish. (38) W P Mullins (IRE) 7 11-10 (CD2) ............................... (32) C Tizzard 7 11-10 (CD3) ................... A Coleman (67) P Hobbs 8 11-10 (CD2) ......... R Johnson (102) T R George 9 11-10 (D3) ................... A P Heskin (78) N Richards 10 11-10 (D5) .................. B Harding (78) T R George 8 11-10 (D5) ............. P Brennan (22) C Tizzard 9 11-10 (D4) ................ T J O’Brien (46) H de Bromhead (IRE) 10 11-10 (D5)... N Fehily (46)KerryLee911-10(D5) .................... DNRussell (25) G L Moore 7 11-10 (D) ........... Joshua Moore BETTING: 1-4 Douvan, 7 Fox Norton, 12 God’s Own, 16 Special Tiara, 33 Garde La Victoire, Top Gamble, Sir Valentino, 50 Traffic Fluide, Simply Ned, 66 Sizing Granite. (11) R C Guest 5 9-12 (BF, CD) ............. C Beasley (512) O Pears 4 9-12 ...................... P Hanagan (11) I Jardine 4 9-12 (D) ............ T Eaves (16) E Alston 4 9-11 .......................... P Makin (107) P Midgley 6 9-10 (BF, CD) ... P Mulrennan (29)JJQuinn49-10(CD) .................. JHart (5) Miss T Waggott 7 9-6 (CD2) .. B A Curtis (11) K Ryan 4 9-2 (D) ........................... Seamus Cronin (7) (11) S Dixon 4 9-2 (D) .............. R P Walsh (7) BETTING: 3 Poetic Queen, 7-2 Horsforth, 5 Indian Pursuit, 6 Windforpower, 7 Groundworker, 8 Entertaining Ben, 14 Tabikat Elle, 16 Jess, 25 Socialites Red. 5-2 Led 1f, settled 3rd, ridden and hung right from over 1f out, ran on under pressure to lead near finish, won at Wolverhampton 6f mdn stks (5) in Feb beating Trotter by shd, 9 ran. 11-4fav In touch in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Ambitious Icarus at Newcastle 5f hcap 0-70 (5). 7-1 Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon led, held on near finish, won at Newcastle 5f hcp (6) in Feb beating Spiraea by hd, 11 ran. 15-2 Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, kept on and just held, 2nd of 12, hd behind Sea Of Green at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-60 (6). 9-4fav Held up towards rear far side, short lived effort over 1f out, 10th of 12, 10l behind Poppy In The Wind at Newcastle 5f hcp (6) in Nov.

11-4fav Tracked leaders, pulled hard, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened, 8th of 10, 6l behind Welliesinthewater at Chelmsford City 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol. 22-1 Behind, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression, 7th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Inaam at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-85 (4) in Feb. 11-2 Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 33l behind Sophie P at Ayr 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Sep. 12-1 In touch in rear, ridden and outpaced 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind Swift Emperor at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-85 (4). 12-1 Held up towards rear, ridden inside final furlong, kept on and no impression, 8th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Tripartite at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) in Feb. 11-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 5l behind Kiwi Bay at Newcastle 1m hcap 0-70 (5).

20-1 Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 18, 24l behind Timeless Art at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct. (27) J Osborne 6 9-7 (D3) ................ T J Murphy (37) G Scott 7 9-5 (D3) ................ Oisin Murphy (17) J Osborne 4 9-3 (D) ............ D Sweeney (18) M Attwater 4 9-3 (D)...A Beschizza (141) T D Barron 5 9-3 (BF, D) ..... S De Sousa (130) T D Barron 9 9-3 (D4) .......... J Fanning (8) J Balding 9 9-1 (CD) ............... D Tudhope (22) Miss G Kelleway 4 8-7 (CD) ............ David Egan (7) BETTING: 7-2 Outer Space, 4 Bertiewhittle, 5 Special Season, Showboating, 6 Bahama Moon, 8 George Cinq, 10 Vroom, 14 Kingston Kurrajong.

1-14fav Led after 1st and made rest, went clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, not extended, won at Punchestown 2m chs G2 (1) sft in Feb beating Realt Mor by 7l, 4 ran. 5-1 Tracked leaders in 4th, driven before 3 out, went 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with impressive winner, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Altior at Newbury 2m chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb. 7-2 Tracking leaders when blundered lost place and dropped to last pair 2nd, not fluent next, rallied into 3rd 3 out, driven and one pace between last 2, kept on well run-in, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Un De Sceaux at Sandown 1m 7f Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec. 8-1 Led until 9th, 4th and no extra 2 out, 5th of 7, 33l behind Un De Sceaux at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) sft in Jan. 6-4fav Occasionaly jumped left, tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, ridden before last, driven out run-in, won at Sandown 1m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan beating Bold Henry by 2l, 7 ran.

10-1 Held up towards rear and keen, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-85 (4) in Feb beating Byres Road by nk, 11 ran. 9-4fav Led, pushed laong halfway, strongly pressed over 1f out, soon ridden disputing lead, headed and no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Fuwairt at Chelmsford City 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jul. 4-1 Chased leader until pushed along over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind War Department at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-85 (4). 12-1 Held up behind, headway over 2f out, driven to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Alexandrakollontai at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-85 (4) in Nov. 6-1 Towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, always held, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Florencio at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb. 14-1 Held up towards rear, ridden and headway towards far side over 1f out, kept on into 4th inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Foolaad at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-75 (5). (27) J J Quinn 4 10-2 (CD) .............. J Hart (23) M Herrington 5 10-2 ............................. C Lee (5) (11) R C Guest 8 10-0 (C3, D) ...... J F Egan (11) B Smart 5 9-13 (CD) .................................. B A Curtis (370) T D Barron 4 9-13 .................... P Makin (92) B Haslam 4 9-12 (BF) .................................. G Lee (27) J L Eyre 6 9-8 (D2) ....................... C Beasley (14) W Storey 5 9-8 (C2) .... Hollie Doyle (3) (14) K Burke 3 9-3 (CD) .................... D Costello (12) M Dods 4 9-0 (D) .................... P Mulrennan BETTING: 4 Spirit of Zebedee, 9-2 Ki Ki, 5 Ambitious Icarus, 6 Epeius, 7 Grecian King, 8 Inshaa, 12 Lady Cristal, Disclosure, 14 Others.

11-4fav Chased leader, left disputing lead inside final furlong, ran on to lead close home, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb beating Tidal’s Baby by nk, 11 ran. 5-2fav Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on towards finish, won at Newcastle 6f fll hcp (5) beating Fredricka by 1/2l, 7 ran.

9-2 Close up, ridden over 1f out, headway to lead between horses inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newcastle 5f hcap 0-70 (5) beating Horsforth by nk, 7 ran.

9-2fav Keen, tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Siouxperhero at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6). 9-2 Took keen hold, prominent until hung right on bend 7f out, mid-division, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Idol Deputy at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcap 0-70 (5) in Feb. 12-1 Raced keenly, chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, went 2nd and stayed on inside final, one pace and lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Kiwi Bay at Newcastle 1m hcap 0-70 (5).

6-1 Chased winner, closed from 4 out, every chance when went left and hit 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, but unable to challenge, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Special Tiara at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec. 5-1 Held up towards rear, headway 6th, went 2nd before 2 out until last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Un De Sceaux at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) sft in Jan. 12-1 Chased leaders, closer order 6th, under pressure from 2 out, went 2nd into straight, dropped to 3rd run-in and one pace, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Douvan at Leopardstown 2m 1f chs G1 (1) in Dec. 20-1 Held up in rear, hit 3rd, not fluent next, headway into modest 3rd place 9th, weakening when hit 3 out, soon behind, tailed off, last of 6, 48l behind Cue Card at Ascot 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) sft in Feb. 5-1 In touch, headway on inside chasing leaders 4th, outpaced after 3 out, plugged on but never on terms after, 5th of 10, 12l behind Tommy Silver at Taunton 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.