THE brilliance that carried Douvan to eight Grade 1 victories headed by two Cheltenham Festival triumphs still burns brightly as one of the best horses to pass through the hands of Willie Mullins made a commanding return to the fray in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase to head a four-timer for his trainer.

The Susannah Ricci-owned gelding hadn’t run for a year and a half and his last win came back in February 2017, but his various injury tribulations have done little to dull his prodigious powers. The nine-year-old was notably strong in the market as he was supported from 11/8 into 4/5 on track and he produced a display to vindicate that confidence.