Douvan took his unbeaten record over fences to three with an impressive display in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Ruby Walsh dictated affairs from the start and the Willie Mullins-trained Douvan proved a willing partner, putting in a superb round of jumping.
Sent off at the highly-prohibitive odds of 1-14, last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero ran his two rivals ragged and put their jumping under pressure from an early stage.
Douvan surged effortlessly clear to win as he pleased by 15 lengths from Velvet Maker. Doomsday Book was another 13 lengths away last of the trio.
The winner was cut to 1-2 favourite from 4-7 for the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham with Paddy Power.
RaceBets went 1-2 from 8-13 for the two-mile championship on March 15th.
Walsh said: “He’s a bit flat over his fences and doesn’t arch his back. Master Minded used to do that, too — flat but effective over his fences. Not arching his back means he’s fast away and that’s a huge plus for a two-miler chaser.
“It’s dead against what show jumpers are meant to do, but it’s perfect for a two-miler chaser.”
He added: “He’s a simple horse to ride — he jumps out, watches where he’s going and it’s all very easy. What I really liked about him was it took a long time to pull him up. The ones that gallop thorough the line and around the bend - that’s when you know there’s something there.
“He’s got the potential — Kauto Star had it as a novice, Vautour had it as a novice and this lad has it too, but until they go and do it in open company, you never know for sure. But Douvan certainly has the potential.”
Earlier A Toi Phil followed up his course win over Christmas with a convincing win in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old had his chance boosted by the victory in the previous race of Don't Touch It, who he had back in second place that day and duly took this Grade Two over two and a half miles.
Acapella Bourgeois set the pace until three out where Bryan Cooper pushed the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding into the lead.
A superb jump at the final flight saw the 6-4 favourite hold the rallying Acapella Bourgeois by seven lengths.
Mullins said: “He’s learning and maturing all the time. He was more like a racehorse today compared to his previous few runs.
“It was two and a half miles today, and I’d say he’d have no problem going out to three miles. He’s a very accurate jumper and he’ll be entered in all the novice hurdles at Cheltenham. He will probably go for either the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett.
“I doubt if he will run again before Cheltenham.
“I don’t think he was broken in until he was four in France, so he’s nearly more like a French three-year-old than a six-year-old. He’s still immature.”
The sponsors have put up a 25,000 euro bonus to the stable staff of the winner if he goes on to win at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
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Meanwhile Don’t Touch It made it third time lucky over jumps after two second places with a smooth victory in the Donohue Marquess Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The race developed into a two-horse affair from the outset with Beau Mome leading from Don’t Touch It (8-11 favourite).
Barry Geraghty was always happy on the latter and cruised into the lead after the second-last flight.
Don't touch It, trained by Jessica Harrington, pulled clear with the minimum of fuss to score by 13 lengths from Beau Mome, who just held Lip Service for second in a race few got involved in.
Harrington said: “Ruby (Walsh, on Beau Mome) put it up to him, and he put it to bed fairly quickly into the straight. He fiddled the third-last but apart from that he jumped well. He quickened away well.
“I’m not sure what the plan will be, but I think he could be very good. He has a lot of gears and he’s been learning all the time.”
