Champion Chase 2018

[jonthehammer]

Has he got any other entries?

[Folski]

Has he got any other entries?

Not currently but the only other race for him would be the Newlands Chase on 25 February over 2m.

Leaves 2.5 weeks to QMCC

[Geordieboy83]

Mullins confirms very happy with Douvan, and heads straight to Cheltenham! Big big ask!

[Robbante]

Mullins confirms very happy with Douvan, and heads straight to Cheltenham! Big big ask!

Which race??

[KingSprinterSacre]

Mullins said: "We're very happy with Douvan but after reviewing things last night I decided not to declare him for the Red Mills Chase and that it would be better to prepare him for Cheltenham without running him over two and a half miles on heavy ground. Cheltenham remains the plan."

Ryanair? First time out against Altior would be a big ask. Min champion chase douvan ryanair would be my guess (if Douvan makes it).

[Geordieboy83]

Who knows mate, Mullins still doing Bingo

[Robbante]

Anyone prepared to give me 1000/1 on:

Min Champion Hurdle, Douvan Champion Chase, Un De Sceaux and Djakadam Ryanair, Total Recall and Killultagh Vic Gold Cup

[Robbante]

I don’t see that sending him back over hurdles is silly. It’s for one race not the rest of his career, Presenting Percy went back over hurdles for a race, Tiger Roll is going back over hurdles for a race. I think it’s a distinct possibility Min could go for the champion hurdle, he has the beating of the favourite and to my eye looks in better nick now than the favourite too. The big if is that it depends on Douvan being in the kind of form where he could challenge Altior. That’s why I think it’s still unlikely, as Douvan needs to be flying at home this time in a month for that to be the case

"Min gone from 100 to 26 on Betfair in the last few mins for the champion hurdle..." That was an hour ago. Still 12s nrnb with paddy though...

[loveracing]

"Min gone from 100 to 26 on Betfair in the last few mins for the champion hurdle..." That was an hour ago. Still 12s nrnb with paddy though...

Interesting. I took 80-100 a couple weeks ago before his last race.

[Bayoffreedom]

Not currently but the only other race for him would be the Newlands Chase on 25 February over 2m.

Leaves 2.5 weeks to QMCC

Press release from Rich Mullins dated 2nd March, 2018:

We have decided to bypass Cheltenham with Douvan this year. We had hoped to run him at Gowran but the ground would have been too heavy first time out; he's too good of a horse for that. We considered the Newlands at Naas but that was only 17 days before the Champion Chase and that felt too quick between runs. We still have Fairyhouse and Punchestown (maybe even Liverpool) to look forward to but, in all honesty, we wouldn't be too upset if he didn't run this season. The good news, and I am sure everyone will agree, is that we still have a great horse to look forward to next season

[Robbante]

Press release from Rich Mullins dated 2nd March, 2018:

We have decided to bypass Cheltenham with Douvan this year. We had hoped to run him at Gowran but the ground would have been too heavy first time out; he's too good of a horse for that. We considered the Newlands at Naas but that was only 17 days before the Champion Chase and that felt too quick between runs. We still have Fairyhouse and Punchestown (maybe even Liverpool) to look forward to but, in all honesty, we wouldn't be too upset if he didn't run this season. The good news, and I am sure everyone will agree, is that we still have a great horse to look forward to next season

Probably right on the button

[ComplyOrDie]

There's a quote from Patrick Mullins just now that reads "Douvan is fine and we've decided to go straight to Cheltenham. We just felt we could prepare him better at home."

And Willie Mullins: "We're very happy with Douvan but after reviewing things last night I decided not to declare him for the Red Mills Chase and that it would be better to prepare him for Cheltenham without running him over 2m4f on heavy ground. Cheltenham remains the plan."

Make of it what you will.

[Robbante]

There's a quote from Patrick Mullins just now that reads "Douvan is fine and we've decided to go straight to Cheltenham. We just felt we could prepare him better at home."

And Willie Mullins: "We're very happy with Douvan but after reviewing things last night I decided not to declare him for the Red Mills Chase and that it would be better to prepare him for Cheltenham without running him over 2m4f on heavy ground. Cheltenham remains the plan."

Make of it what you will.

No reason to think he won't be running at this stage. On good ground you would initially think maybe Min Champion Chase Douvan Ryanair, but depends for me how Faugheen and Yorkhill are looking the week before. If Yorkhill is Ryanair bound then can't see Mullins having Un De Sceaux, Yorkhill and Min/Douvan in the Ryanair. I would guess that Min will be schooled over hurdles at home regardless, gives them options and he is still entered in the champion hurdle which suggests it was somewhere lurking in their thoughts (even though willie block enters them)

[Birds Nest]

I had a nibble at 100 on Min 1st Feb but he was showing 180 a couple of days ago, now back to 30, but im sure its just a bit of adjustment as we get closer to the festival with a bit of speculation and covering thrown in. I wouldnt be worried about him not coming here at the moment though, his price for this still looks solid enough...

[Robbante]

"Douvan's also entered for the Ryanair Chase but the Champion Chase has always been the plan and that remains the situation”. From Willie, really tough one to call