Douvan among Champion Chase declarations for Willie Mullins at Punchestown
Willie Mullins is targeting the heavy windfall he needs this week to catch championship rival Gordon Elliott and defend his Irish jump trainers title, with Mullins represented by a strong quartet in the BoyleSports Champion Chase.
DOUVAN is part of a strong Willie Mullins quartet declared in the BoyleSports Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.
Champion trainer Mullins has Gordon Elliott to catch as the battle for the Irish jump trainers title comes to its pivotal last week at Punchestown, and Mullins has declared several big guns for the first massive pot of the week.
It will be somewhat of a redemption mission for Douvan after he came down at the fourth-last when going well in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on his first start since a lengthy injury absence.
The eight-year-old will be joined by stablemates Ballycasey, Un De Sceaux and the Queen Mother runner-up Min.
Title-chasing rival Elliott is also heavy handed in the race as he saddles A Toi Phil, Doctor Phoenix, Tell Us More and The Game Changer.
Henry de Bromhead supplies the only other two runners, Special Tiara and Ordinary World, in the 10-runner field
LATEST IN HORSE RACING
Colin Tizzard is sending over recent Aintree winner Finian's Oscar for the Growise Champion Novice Chase, although Mullins and Elliott once again dominate the 11-runner field.
Mullins runs three in National Hunt Chase victor Rathvinden, Al Boum Photo and Invitation Only, while Elliott has declared a five-strong team comprising of Dounikos, Jury Duty, Monbeg Notorious, The Storyteller and Shattered Love.
Templegate's treble
NAP 2.35 Stratford - Zamparelli: 'Looked in need of this step up in trip'
NEXT BEST 4.55 Wincanton - Guerrilla Tactics: 'Already a course and distance winner'
TREBLE 3.30 Market Rasen - Kingston: 'Slipped in the weights and will like the ground'
The Mullins-trained Getabird, who bounced back from a poor display at Cheltenham with a Grade 2 success at Fairyhouse, heads a field of 10 for the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
His rivals include Draconien, Hardline and Sharjah, who finished behind in that order at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.
De Bromhead's Paloma Blue, Mengli Khan from the Elliott yard and Tizzard's Vision Des Flos are other fascinating contenders in the field.