Races
AINTREE REWIND | Douvan cruises to victory in the 2016 Maghull Novices’ Chase
Willie Mullins’s rising talent extended his unbeaten run over fences to five races at Aintree
Following the news of his retirement over the weekend, we take a look back at Douvan’s sole success at Aintree in the form of the Group 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase.
Willie Mullins’ exciting sort has won his first four starts over fences, including landing victory in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival three weeks beforehand.
Going off at the incredibly short price of 2/13, the gelding tracked the leading Alisier D’Irlande for the majority of the contest.
The then-six-year-old breezed into the lead on the home turn and he continued his saunter down the straight.
Gordon Elliott’s The Game Changer attempted to keep in touch with him, but Douvan’s class was too much to deal with.
Mullins’ star continued to pull away in the final stages, going on to win by an impressive 14 lengths.
Douvan went to finish the season unbeaten, recording victory in the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown at the end of April.
