Douvan delivers Arkle glory for Willie Mullins
Douvan made virtually all the running as he justified the status of a first-day banker with an effortless victory in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.
Vaniteux tried to put it up to the Willie Mullins hotpot at the second-last but made a bad mistake, giving Nico de Boinville no chance of staying in the saddle.
Baltimore Rock came down independently at the same fence when at the rear.
Ruby Walsh had barely moved a muscle on Douvan and the 1-4 shot, owned by Rich Ricci, bounded clear of the opposition to give connections quick compensation for the defeat of Min in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Douvan wins the Arkle in superb style returning at 1-4! #TheFestival https://t.co/mBMSSq1NlL
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2016
The always-prominent Sizing John (9-1) was second, seven lengths adrift.
Ricci said: "He's just very good isn't he, he's very, very exciting. It's effortless, isn't it - he's got everything.
"He's certainly the best we've had."
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