Douvan has extended his unbeaten chase record to nine as he landed the BoyleSports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

Mullins is lining up for a historic tilt at the British trainers' championship.

Willie Mullins believes Douvan has enough experience to justify his billing and claim a second successive Cheltenham Festival success with victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

Douvan made a near-perfect start to his career over fences with an impressive display in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase at Navan.

Ruby Walsh believes Douvan is “ready start” over fences Navan on Sunday.

Punchestown is one of the most important weeks of the year and just like Cheltenham, it starts for me with Douvan (4.20). He seems in really good form and is coming off a brilliant performance in winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Douvan lived up to the hype to give the Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh and Rich Ricci triumvirate a third successive victory in the Cheltenham Festival opener, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets the 2015 Cheltenham Festival up and running, and the Willie Mullins-trained Shaneshill looks a value option against favourite and stable companion Douvan, writes Tommy Lyons.