Douvan won the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
Tuesday 10 March 2015 14:59, UK
The well-backed Douvan was an impressive winner of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The five-year-old was viewed as one of the bankers of the meeting and immediately put the bookmakers on the back foot with a stunning performance in the Festival curtain raiser.
Trained, like the runner-up Shaneshill, by Willie Mullins, he was sent off the 2/1 favourite and his supporters rarely had a moment's worry although he did race a fraction keenly in the early stages.
Travelling sweetly in midfield for Ruby Walsh, he pulled clear along with Shaneshill and Sizing John from the second last and he pinged the final flight to put the race to bed.
It was the third successive win in the race for Mullins, Walsh and owner Rich Ricci following victories for Vautour and Champagne Fever.
The winning distance was four and a half lengths with two and a half lengths back to the third.
Second favourite L'Ami Serge finished fourth having never seemed entirely happy on the faster going although he was done no favours when hampered by the fall of Seedling.
Bookmakers were quick to cut Douvan's price for the 2016 Champion Hurdle for which he is now among the market leaders.
-
![Horses make their way back from the gallops on Champion Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
Image: Horses make their way back from the morning gallops -
![Horses make their way back from the gallops on Champion Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
Image: There's time to soak up the sun and have a pick of grass before the action gets underway -
![Horses head towards the stables at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: There's a relative hive of activity at the stables -
![The 'At the Races Express' arrives ahead at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: The 'At the Races Express' arrives at the racecourse -
![Racegoers arrive at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: The passengers disembark on a glorious spring day -
![The Guinness flows during day one of the Cheltenham Festival]()
Image: Inside the track, the Guinness already flows -
![Racegoers study the form ahead at Cheltenham Racecourse]()
Image: Time for a little last minute form study, will these three wise men be following the star? -
![Douvan ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps on the way to winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle]()
Image: Douvan ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps on the way to winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle -
![CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Ruby Walsh celebrates on board Douvan as they cross the line to win The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.]()
Image: There's no feeling like getting that first winner under your belt -
![Un De Sceaux ridden by Ruby Walsh (right) on the way to winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy from God's Own]()
Image: It's a swift double for Walsh and Willie Mullins as Un De Sceaux makes all in the Racing Post Arkle -
![Un De Sceaux, ridden by Ruby Walsh, on their way to winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.]()
Image: Un De Sceaux was driven out to hold the rallying God's Own at bay -
![Ruby Walsh celebrates his victory on Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival]()
Image: More celebrations for Walsh as he returns to the famous winner's enclosure -
![The Druids Nephew ridden by Barry Geraghty jumps the last fence]()
Image: The Druids Nephew and Barry Geraghty have the field trailing in their wake -
![The Druids Nephew is driven out by Barry Geraghty on his way to winning the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase]()
Image: And kick clear up the hill to score convincingly -
![Barry Geraghty celebrates winning the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase on The Druids Nephew]()
Image: It's time to soak up the applause -
![Ruby Walsh riding Faugheen clear the second flight of hurdles on their way to winning The Stan James Champion Hurdle at Che]()
Image: Ruby Walsh and Faugheen have an early lead in the Stan James Champion Hurdle -
![Faugheen leads his rivals a merry dance over the last]()
Image: And go on to lead his rivals a merry dance -
![Ruby Walsh celebrates his victory on Faugheen in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham]()
Image: We've seen this shot somewhere before haven't we? -
![Ruby Walsh celebrates winning the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Faugheen]()
Image: Ruby, Ruby, Ruby................ -
![The dramatic moment when Annie Power fell at the last with the race at her mercy]()
Image: But he was brought crashing down to earth in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle as Annie Power got the last all wrong -
![Racegoers react as Annie Power falls during The OLBG Mares' Hurdle Race]()
Image: It's heart in mouth time for her watching fans but fortunately both she and Ruby Walsh appeared to emerge unscathed -
![Glens Melody (L) crosses the line to win The OLBG Mares' Hurdle]()
Image: Stablemate Glens Melody takes advantage to land the spoils -
![Paul Townend celebrates on board Glens Melody (L) alongside second placed Polly Peachum ridden by Barry Geraghty]()
Image: Paul Townend celebrates alongside second placed pair Polly Peachum and Barry Geraghty -
![Jamie Codd riding Cause Of Causes (2nd left) wins the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham]()
Image: Jamie Codd riding Cause Of Causes (second from left) wins the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in the JP McManus silks -
![Trainer Gordon Elliott celebrates Cause Of Causes winning the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham]()
Image: Cause Of Causes' trainer Gordon Elliott lands another blow for the Irish -
![Paul Townend on Irish Cavalier after winning the CHAPS Restaurant barbados Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham]()
Image: Paul Townend on Irish Cavalier after winning the concluding CHAPS Restaurant barbados Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham
Walsh said: "That's the pressure off. He was very keen and took a good hold of me all the way.
"You'd imagine he'd improve. He's a gorgeous horse and it's brilliant to be here."
Mullins added: "He's a horse that has huge ability. That's going to make the week a lot easier for us.
"It was good to see him doing what he does at home. If there hadn't been so much at stake Ruby might not have had him off the bridle. He's a horse that has huge ability.
"He was a bit too free and I thought that might have been his undoing. I didn't expect him to be like that. He's very relaxed at home."
Ricci said: "He's raw, he's a big immature thing and he will benefit from a summer. When he matures he's going to be something.
"It's a dream come true, just remarkable. We must be very lucky owners. Ruby's a star, Willie's a star, the whole team. It's unbelievable to do that (win this race three years running).
"When he grows up and matures he's going to be something."
Reflecting further on his perfect start, Mullins said: "We have had no time for pressure as we've been so busy making sure everything was right, so it was a mixture of relief and satisfaction.
"Somebody told me we had five of the seven favourites on the first day, which was a bit of a shock to the system, but this makes the week a little easier.
"Shaneshill was fantastic also. He's not had a straightforward season, so while I wouldn't say there was definite improvement in him, you would have to think we could have him a little sharper.
"They will both go to Punchestown, and as for next year, I will reserve judgement on what they will be doing!
"He (Douvan) looks like a chaser already but if he was an Irish-bred, you would probably only be thinking about running him in a point to point or a bumper.
"I got sick of reading what I was saying about him, but at least he's gone and done it. We have had no setbacks at all in the run up to the Festival and that took the pressure off greatly."
The owner of Shaneshill, Graham Wylie, was delighted with the performance of his charge.
"We're delighted with that," said Wylie.
"He's run a big race considering he wasn't quite at full fitness. He could easily have run in tomorrow's race (the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle) but we've got Nichols Canyon in and Willie (Mullins - trainer) felt we should come here instead.
"He's won over a bit further and it could be that the two and a half miles will suit him better in time as Paul (Townend - jockey) felt he was flat out all the way.
"We've got a lot to look forward to."
Henry de Bromhead was delighted with the effort of Sizing John and he could also head to the Punchestown Festival.
He said: "I am delighted with that run as he is a chaser in the making. Coming around the last bend I thought he might do it, but he just got tired going up the hill. He ran a blinder, though.
"I would say he would go to Punchestown as that was only his fourth run of the season. We will then leave him off and go chasing next year."
Nicky Henderson felt fourth-placed L'Ami Serge had failed to land a telling blow.
He said: "L'Ami Serge never got into the race and was never travelling. He finished well enough, though, which is always encouraging."
