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Willie at the press briefing today -
Douvan is back in light training but Mullins believes it is too early to say whether the star two-mile chaser will run this season.
The Rich Ricci-owned eight-year-old has not been seen since he sustained a pelvic injury when suffering a shock defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last March.
He had been set to reappear in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December but was not declared, with Mullins reporting he had not been totally happy with him in the days before the race.
He subsequently ruled him out for the entire campaign, but Mullins said: "He's back cantering and we are doing that for a few weeks to see how he progresses. We will take things slowly.
"I don't know and I don't want to say what the chances are of him running this season.
"There was an injury there and whether that was an old injury or not he hurt himself for a few days.
"What surprised us all was his recovery, how quick it was, and then our veterinary team started looking at him from another angle and were thinking that there was a little chance (of him running again this season)."
Yorkhill was disappointing in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase - his first try for Mullins over three miles - and is now set to drop back down in trip for the Coral Dublin Chase on February 3.
A return to hurdling for the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner has not been ruled out, either.
Mullins said: "We will go down the two-mile chase route and if that doesn't work we will go back to hurdling.
"I'm happy for him to go for the Coral Dublin Chase, and I don't think there is much alternative."
Min, who crossed the line first in a Grade One over Christmas but was demoted by the stewards, is another contender for the Dublin Chase.
"He's in great shape and came out of his race over Christmas at Leopardstown well," said Mullins.
Douvan is back in light training but Mullins believes it is too early to say whether the star two-mile chaser will run this season.
The Rich Ricci-owned eight-year-old has not been seen since he sustained a pelvic injury when suffering a shock defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last March.
He had been set to reappear in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December but was not declared, with Mullins reporting he had not been totally happy with him in the days before the race.
He subsequently ruled him out for the entire campaign, but Mullins said: "He's back cantering and we are doing that for a few weeks to see how he progresses. We will take things slowly.
"I don't know and I don't want to say what the chances are of him running this season.
"There was an injury there and whether that was an old injury or not he hurt himself for a few days.
"What surprised us all was his recovery, how quick it was, and then our veterinary team started looking at him from another angle and were thinking that there was a little chance (of him running again this season)."
Yorkhill was disappointing in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase - his first try for Mullins over three miles - and is now set to drop back down in trip for the Coral Dublin Chase on February 3.
A return to hurdling for the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner has not been ruled out, either.
Mullins said: "We will go down the two-mile chase route and if that doesn't work we will go back to hurdling.
"I'm happy for him to go for the Coral Dublin Chase, and I don't think there is much alternative."
Min, who crossed the line first in a Grade One over Christmas but was demoted by the stewards, is another contender for the Dublin Chase.
"He's in great shape and came out of his race over Christmas at Leopardstown well," said Mullins.
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