RACING POST ARKLE

CHALLENGE TROPHY

CHASE (GRADE 1)

FROM the very outset of the season Douvan’s position as the overwhelming favourite for the Arkle was beyond reproach and the brilliant six-year-old once again delivered on the biggest stage of all with the most clinical of displays.

Fittingly for one of limitless potential, Douvan was returned the shortest priced favourite of the week at 1/4 and it is testament to his standing that only six rivals deigned to take him on.

The outcome was ultimately as one sided as the betting suggested as the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding cruised home by seven lengths from compatriot Sizing John, who was finishing second to the winner for the fourth time.

Afterwards Willie Mullins was of the view that his charge is definitely a Gold Cup horse but that he may go down the Champion Chase route, which is a striking illustration of the depth of Douvan’s abilities.

In short this gelding has the world at his feet so it is perhaps fitting that he was the first horse to win the Supreme and the Arkle in conseutive seasons since Flyingbolt in 1964 and 1965.

As regards the race itself Ruby Walsh and Douvan enjoyed the most straight forward of passages. They initially disputed the lead with Sizing John before then moving to the head of the field as they left the stands behind them.

Douvan then proceeded to produce a mixture of bold, measured and clever jumps and he was still hard on the bridle nearing the straight.

At this point Sizing John was challenging on his inner while Vaniteux was rousted along to get upsides on his outer. The latter was already held when he crashed out two out and it was left to Sizing John to lead the chase but Douvan turned on the style to storm clear, becoming the shortest priced horse in Arkle history.

Asked about next term Mullins declared: “Could be a Gold Cup horse? Definitely and that’s what I thought coming off the stands but he may well go down the Champion Chase route. That’s what’s foremost in my mind. He has the pace and he jumps very well so that could suit him.

“I thought that they were going too slow but I said ‘that’s fine he’s got plenty of speed’ and as he kept going on the others started falling away and I said ‘he’s just going a quicker pace than the others.’ We think he could be anything and he hasn’t disproved that there.”

Aintree could now be considered for the winner although it is more likely that the Punchestown Festival is next on the agenda.

“He has a huge amount of natural ability. I didn’t have to ask him to jump a fence until the second last and that was only getting into the board and getting over the fence. Vaniteux joined me on the bend and while I know he fell I felt Douvan would have settled it in the air. I’d imagine there’s more to come, that’s only his fourth run over fences,” stated Walsh.

Henry de Bromhead expressed himself pleased with the runner-up and will now consider Aintree and Punchestown for his charge.