DOOM BAR MAGHULL

NOVICES’ CHASE

(GRADE 1)

THINGS were much more straightforward for 2/13 shot Douvan (a recorded bet of £727 to £4,000, almost certainly a fearless punter rather than bookmaker to bookmaker) who coasted home in the Grade 1 Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase.

Henry de Bromhead’s Alisier D’Irlande led but was plenty keen enough and Townend bided his time before taking over after the ninth. From then on it was easy enough, the six-year-old pulling well clear to beat Gordon Elliott’s The Game Changer by 14 lengths with Fox Norton a moderate third of five.

Like Tidal Bay and Sprinter Sacre, Douvan was following up here after winning the Arkle. If kept to two miles, it is possible to imagine him dominating the Queen Mother Champion Chase for a few years to come.

“I wasn’t happy with his jumping early on but once he started to go on a stride he was much better,’’ Mullins said. “I’d love to bring him to Punchestown but we’ll see if it’s too close and it might not be fair on him.’’