News Douvan spearheads strong Willie Mullins team in Punchestown Champion Chase

Douvan spearheads strong Willie Mullins team in Punchestown Champion Chase

racing

Douvan will face nine rivals as he bids to atone for a fall at Cheltenham in the BoyleSports Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.

The crack two-miler came down at the fourth-last when going well in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on his first start since finishing seventh in the same race a year ago.

The eight-year-old is one of four runners from the Willie Mullins team along with Queen Mother runner-up Min, Ballycasey and Un De Sceaux, who was second in this race behind Fox Norton 12 months ago.

Title-chasing rival Gordon Elliott saddles A Toi Phil, Doctor Phoenix, Tell Us More and The Game Changer.

Fox Norton's trainer Colin Tizzard has a leading contender in Finian's Oscar for the Growise Champion Novice Chase.

He is among 11 horses declared for the three-mile heat as he attempts to back up his victory at Aintree earlier this month.

Mullins has three live challengers in Cheltenham National Hunt Chase scorer Rathvinden, Al Boum Photo and Invitation Only, who were first and third in the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.

Elliott goes for glory with a five-strong team comprising of Dounikos, Jury Duty, Monbeg Notorious, The Storyteller and Shattered Love.

The Mullins-trained Getabird heads a field of 10 for the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, in which his rivals include Draconien, Hardline and Sharjah, who finished behind him in that order at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.