Douvan was an emphatic winner at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in a row after running away with the Arkle.
Last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner was sent off a short-priced favourite to follow up in the Arkle following a scintillating start to his chasing career.
He travelled powerfully throughout for Ruby Walsh and, a tardy jump at the last aside, was superb over his fences in beating old rival Sizing John by seven lengths.
Sizing John held a narrow advantage during the early stages from Douvan as both Aso and The Game Changer made minor errors over the first couple of fences.
Walsh sent Douvan into the lead turning away from the stands as he continued to jump immaculately, with Sizing John and Vaniteux on his heels.
Coming down the hill, Douvan was still travelling well within himself as Vaniteux and Sizing John were ridden, with The Game Changer taking closer order and looking full of running.
Vaniteux briefly got up alongside turning for home, but was blown away on the run to the second last where he took a crashing fall under Nico de Boinville.
He hampered both Sizing John and The Game Changer, but it had little impact on the result as Douvan was slightly awkward at the last before surging up the hill.
Sizing John, who has now finished behind Douvan five times over hurdles and fences, kept on for second, with Fox Norton staying on well for third.
