Douvan all set to star in Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Willie Mullins is in bullish mood as Douvan bids to get the Cheltenham Festival off to a perfect start for the Irish in today’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The normally cautious Mullins has been unable to hide his excitement about a performer he hails “as nice a horse as we’ve had ever going to Cheltenham”, some praise from a man who is the Festival’s winning-most Irish trainer of all time with 33 victories ahead of the latest instalment.

The five-year-old has been mightily impressive since being snapped up from France, slamming subsequent Grade One winner Sizing John on his Irish bow at Gowran Park before treating his rivals with contempt in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, a race landed last year by Supreme-winning stablemate Vautour.