Willie Mullins is hopeful Douvan can win the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham despite having faced just five rivals in his last two races.
The 59-year-old County Carlow-based handler has been impressed with last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner in his past three outings over fences.
Douvan was thrown into a field of 13 rivals on his chasing debut at Navan but has not had much opposition to overcome in two following outings at Grade One level.
Despite that, Mullins still believes he can come out on top in next month’s eagerly-awaited Festival at Prestbury Park.
“The few times he’s run he’s been very good and he’s been good at home as well,” Mullins told At The Races. “It is a worry (he has faced small fields and inferior opposition), but what can we do? I hope it’s something similar in Cheltenham.”
He added: “I’ve been pleased every time with his jumping. Even when he makes a mistake, he seems to know where his feet are and he picks himself up. He’s never looked in danger.
“He goes his own pace. The day Patrick (Mullins) rode him at Christmas, we knew what we wanted to do, but Patrick said he jumped off in a canter and seemed to be doing it at his ease and changed tactics after the first fence.
“He captures my imagination every time I see him, hopefully he stays sound.”
