Douvan was all the rage for Cheltenham after an emphatic success in the Grade Two sportinglife.com Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Already at the head of the betting for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March after impressing on his Irish debut at Gowran, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old passed his next test with flying colours.
Sent off the 1-3 favourite, the Rich Ricci-owned gelding was never out of second gear under Ruby Walsh, who sat in fourth through the early stages as Rock On The Moor cut out the running before cantering to the front hard on the bridle coming to the last.
Having safely negotiated that, he cruised three and three-quarter lengths clear of Alpha Des Obeaux, emulating subsequent Supreme hero Vautour, who took this race 12 months ago before his glory day in March. Mullins said: “He did that nicely. He jumped and galloped and did everything that he does at home. He does things very easy.
“That race on paper looked stronger than the one Vautour won last year. I don’t think ground or trip make any difference to him, and I’d imagine he’ll go straight to Cheltenham now.”
Walsh said: “He did it very well. He traveled well, he jumped super. They were probably stayers he beat but they’re decent enough horses, it was a good performance. He has the size and scope to be a beautiful horse next year — when he fills into his frame, he’ll be some horse.
“He has a lot of natural ability and hopefully we can keep him right and going the right way and get him to Cheltenham in one piece. He’s a very good horse, I’d say you could go any trip with him, two, two and a half — I doubt you’d have to go the Albert Bartlett but either of the other two (Supreme and Neptune) wouldn’t bother me.”
RaceBets cut Douvan to 5-2 favourite from 4-1 for the Supreme, and 4-1 market leader from 10s for the Neptune.
Jarry D'Honneur got off the mark for Mullins with a commanding success in the Festival Hospitality From 99 Euros Beginners Chase.
Winner of his last three starts when trained in France, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old had a year off and then finished a promising fourth on his Irish debut at Navan last month. He was sent off the 2-1 joint-favourite to step forward from that.
Walsh soon had him in front and he jumped soundly before easing away from Bishops Road and Apache Jack to win by eight and a half lengths. Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “He’s straightforward and jumped well. He improved a bit from Navan. Ruby said two and a half miles was no problem for him. He handles the ground well and there will be plenty of opportunities.”
Walsh said: “I was probably expecting more from Apache Jack. This horse was sick and missed a year. He jumps well and doesn’t back off.”
There was a blow for Shane Shortall, who suffered a broken collarbone in a fall from Capture The Drama at the first fence.
Portrait King and Declan Queally showed stamina in abundance to land a nice prize in the Connolly's Red Mills Amateur National For The Conyngham Cup (Q.R.) Handicap Chase.
Rogue Angel opened up a huge early advantage and had his rivals at it with three to jump. Still around six lengths up at the second-last, he began to tire as favourite On The Shannon was hard-driven to close coming to the final fence, as was Vasco Du Mee.
Rogue Angel got over in front but one-time Eider Chase hero Portrait King (6-1) finished with a relative wet sail to swamp them all, coming from well off the pace to get up for a five-and-a-half-length victory.
Winning trainer Maurice Phelan said: “He’s had a lot of problems and has done a tendon and two pelvises all on different occasions. He’ll come back for the three-and-a-half-mile race here in about three weeks which he won previously. All he does is stay and gallop.”
Robbie Colgan was in double form, scoring on Lean Araig (7-1) for Oliver McKieran in the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Handicap Hurdle and following up on Noble Endeavor in the Punchestown Rated Hurdle for Gordon Elliott.
Elliott said of the 15-8 favourite: “I don’t know if he’s a bit green or a monkey. I think there is a nice race in him somewhere. He’ll be better in a big field that will keep him competitive. The whole way around he’s looking for gaps.”
