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Douvan: unstoppable again. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Punchestown 2016

Going for Gold? Mullins considers Cheltenham options after Douvan exhibition

Superstar chaser caps perfect season by winning the Ryanair Novice Chase.

DOUVAN WAS AT his devastating best as he capped an unbeaten season by winning the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Sent off the 2/9 favourite, Willie Mullins’ six-year-old eased clear to beat The Game Changer by 11 lengths with Sizing John in third.

Afterwards Mullins hinted that a step up to three miles and a shot at landing the trainer’s first-ever Cheltenham Gold Cup could be on the cards in 2017.

“The Champion Chase looks the obvious route,” he told RTÉ afterwards.

Do we want to take on Sprinter Sacre? I don’t know. Could we make a Gold Cup horse out of him? Maybe.

A crowd of 16,978 braved the unseasonable April weather and watched One Track Mind land the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle for Warren Greatrex at 10/1.

Ridden by Mark Walsh, Quantitativeeasing (9/4jf) won the La Touche Cup for Enda Bolger, holding off stablemate Cantlow and Nina Carberry by three lengths.

Punchestown – Thursday’s results

  • 15.40 - 1. Elusive Ivy (16/1) 2. The Brock Inn (16/1) 3. Pakman (20/1) 4. Seeyouallincoppers (12/1)
  • 16.15 - 1. Bright New Dawn (12/1) 2. Rock The World (10/3f) 3. Sizing Codelco (4/1 2f)
  • 16.50 - 1. Quantitativeeasing (9/4jf) 2. Cantlow (9/2) 3. Ballyboker Bridge (5/2)
  • 17.30 - 1. One Track Mind (10/1) 2. Jennies Jewel (33/1) 3. Alpha Des Obeaux (Evs f)
  • 18.05 - 1. Cup Final (14/1) 2. Jury Duty (5/1f) 3. Burgas (16/1) 4. Tarabiyn (33/1)
  • 18.40 - 1. Douvan (2/9f) 2. The Game Changer (9/1) 3. Sizing John (8/1 2f)
  • 19.15 - 1. Missy Tata (6/4f) 2. Ria D’etel (5/1 2f) 3. Ten Times Better (14/1)
  • 19.45 – 1. Invitation Only (9/10f) 2. Blast of Koeman (16/1) 3. Sunni May (7/1)

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