Star returns for double bid
TOP chasers Douvan and Djakadam are set to return to action this weekend.
Unbeaten in 10 starts for Willie Mullins and last season’s outstanding novice chaser, winning five times at Grade 1 level, Douvan is on course to contest the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase (Grade 3) in Cork on Sunday while Djakadam, placed in the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups, will bid for backto-back wins in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.
Mullins confirmed the Hilly Way as Douvan’s comeback target last week, when ruling the six-year-old out of Sandown’s Tingle Creek, won in memorable style by another of the Mullins stars Un De Sceaux.
Both Douvan and Black Hercules, winner of the JLT at the Cheltenham Festival, hold engagements in the John Durkan, where Black Hercules is expected to join stable-companion Djakadam, which slammed Valseur Lido by 12 lengths last year.
Last seen when runner-up to Carlingford Lough in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April, Djakadam was earlier runner-up to Don Cossack in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, having finished third to Coneygree in the same race in 2015.
Enda Bolger’s Gilgamboa, fourth in the Aintree Grand National and runner-up on his seasonal debut in Navan, and the Mouse Morristrained Mozoltov also hold entries in both of Sunday’s big chases while Kerry Lee, who enjoyed plenty of success on raids to Ireland last spring, has entered Kylemore Lough for the Durkan and both Grey Gold and Top Gamble for the Hilly Way, although plans have not been finalised.
And both Sub Lieutenant, unbeaten in two starts this season, and Outlander are expected to represent Gigginstown House Stud in the Durkan, which they won with subsequent Gold Cup victor Don Cossack in 2014.
Elsewhere, Irish trainers are responsible for 10 of the 16 entries for the Glenfarclas Cross-country (Handicap) Chase in Cheltenham on Saturday, with the Willie Mullins-trained Alelchin Inois topping the weights.
Enda Bolger’s challenge will be spear-headed by course specialist Josies Orders and recent Punchestown winner Cantlow.
Meanwhile, Dundalk stages an additional, eight-race card tonight, when the emphasis will be on quantity rather than quality, following the division of both 45-65 handicaps on the original programme.
The nap vote goes to the Ger Lyons-trained filly Ellaria, a daughter of Exceed And Excel, in the opening mile maiden.
Sixth on her debut, this filly was beaten less than a length when third behind Waitaki and Almoner here last week and, stepping up from six furlongs to a mile, might have improved enough to reverse debut form with Pure Action.
In the handicaps, Garvin Donnelly has double prospects with Carrigeen Prince (6.30) and Lily’s Prince (8.00) while the Jim Bolger-trained Heavy Weight looks potentially well-treated on his return to the polytrack for the finale, the Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Handicap.