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Douvan came home clear of his rivals in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham

Douvan comes home well clear of Sizing John
Image: Douvan comes home well clear of Sizing John

Hot favourite Douvan powered to an impressive victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham as Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins opened their account for the Cheltenham Festival.

Sent off the 1/4 market leader, Douvan made most of the running and came home well clear after nearest rival Vaniteux fell at the second last.

Douvan arrived at the meeting with a towering reputation, having won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last term and taken all three of his novice chases with ease this season.

He raced in second place early on as old rival Sizing John set the pace, but Walsh soon had Douvan in front and the six-year-old produced an immaculate round of jumping.

Vaniteux loomed up on the outside as they rounded the home turn but Douvan began to motor and found himself all alone in front when his nearest rival crumpled to the ground after jumping the penultimate fence.

Sizing John (9/1) gave chase but Douvan was not stopping in front and cruised across the line seven lengths clear.

Fox Norton took third, just ahead of The Game Changer, who was hampered when Vaniteux came down.

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Douvan clears the last on his way to victory in the Racing Post Arkle
Image: Douvan clears the last on his way to victory in the Racing Post Arkle

Owner Rich Ricci said of Douvan: "He's certainly the best we've had. He's just very good, isn't he? Very, very exciting. He's got everything."

Walsh added: "He was very good, very assured in his jumping. He only did what he had to do, really.

"Willie is not a boisterous person, but he's never hidden the regard he has for this horse. He's an incredible horse."

Mullins was thrilled to land his first winner of the week after Supreme Novices' favourite Min had been beaten into second place in the Festival opener.

"It's fantastic to get on the board," he said. "Hopefully he just keep winning. We think he could be anything. We think he could be a Champion Chase horse or he could be a Gold Cup horse, we just don't know.

Connections of Douvan celebrate Arkle Trophy glory at Cheltenham
Image: Connections of Douvan celebrate Arkle Trophy glory at Cheltenham

"He has got plenty of speed and I thought he had Vaniteux beaten a long way out. I've not got a clue where we go next, but usually we go back to Punchestown instead of Aintree."

Sizing John's trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "He travelled over to England really well, which was important, so we might think about Aintree and Punchestown.

"We're sick of the sight of Douvan but there you go. The winner is obviously a very good horse, so there's no shame in finishing second."

Happily, after the race both Vaniteux and Baltimore Rock, who also fell at the second last, were reported to have walked away unscathed.

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