Here's why Douvan should be aimed at the Gold Cup

If Willie Mullins sticks to the tried and trusted system that has served him so well there’s no doubt Douvan will head for the two-mile Champion Chase at Cheltenham, with a possible tilt at the Gold Cup put back to 2018.

In the aftermath of Douvan’s smooth return to action at Cork last Sunday, Mullins indicated that the horse would not be heading to Kempton for the King George at Christmas and the plan, at least for the moment, was to stay at two miles.

Owner Rich Ricci was singing off the same hymn sheet in an interview with At The Races. It will be disappointing if Douvan continues on a similiar pattern, basically beating horses over the minimum trip that simply aren’t in his league.