Mullins expecting more from stable star Douvan

Florida Pearl captured the hearts of a nation in the late 1990s and was long hailed by Mullins as the greatest chaser he had ever trained before he saddled Hedgehunter to 2005 Grand Natonal glory.

In the last decade Faugheen, Annie Power, Quevega and the incomparable Hurricane Fly had few peers in the hurdling division, while Vautour was a spectacular chaser at his best before losing his life in a freak accident last autumn.

Given the startling amount of equine talent that has passed through his hands, it is hardly surprising the County Carlow maestro keeps superlatives to a minimum, but the smile on his face as Douvan’s name is mentioned tells you all you need to know.

It was during a media open day two years ago that Mullins let slip that Douvan, at the time being readied for his first trip to Prestbury Park for a tilt at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, was “as nice a horse as we’ve had ever going to Cheltenham”. It was an unusually bullish comment from a man who at the time had trained 33 winners – now 48 – at the showpiece fixture.

Hindsight tells you that Mullins, as usual, was probably right. Douvan was scintillating in the Supreme and awesome in the Arkle last year and it will be one of the biggest shocks in Festival history if he does not complete the hat-trick and win his 14th consecutive race in the Queen Mother Champion Chase tomorrow week under the peerless Ruby Walsh.

Back in the same living room in the heart of Closutton, the trainer did his best to dampen the hype. “It’s easy to watch him at home. A horse like Un De Sceaux is hard to watch, because every day he goes out he wants to be competitive,” said Mullins.

“Douvan is a lovely relaxed individual. Holly (Conte) rides him every day and they go round the gallop at their own pace.

“It’s not only what everyone else thinks of him, it’s what I’ve thought of him, what he could be. The bar keeps rising and he keeps meeting it, but he’s not there yet.”

His last comment was particularly interesting, suggesting that the brilliant Douvan has not yet reached the ceiling of his ability – a scary thought for rivals.

In Mullins’ eyes at least, Douvan is still all about potential and he still has some way to go if he is to knock 22-time Grade One winner Hurricane Fly off his perch as top dog in his trainer’s eyes. He said: “He’s got to win a Champion Chase, hasn’t he? Maybe even a couple of them. He’s won everything we’ve asked him to win, but he’s got to win his championship race.

“I think I’ve said what I thought about him –that he could be the best that I’ve ever had – but he’s a long way to go to get there.

“He’s certainly got to get past Hurricane Fly, who did what he did. The bar is high for him.”

Aidan Coleman is set to ride Brian Ellison’s Forest Bihan in next Tuesday’s Arkle Trophy.

Coleman was in the saddle when the novice chaser won at Doncaster at the end of January in the colours of Phil Martin whose Definitly Red is a leading contender for the Randox Health Grand National.

Malton-based Ellison told The Yorkshire Post that he does not expect Coleman to be required for other connections in the Arkle which is headed by trainer Nicky Henderson’s red-hot favourite Altior.

Leading Irish rider Mark Walsh is set to partner the Alan King-trained Yanworth in the Champion Hurdle next week.

Barry Geraghty, retained jockey to leading owner JP McManus, has ridden the seven-year-old on each of his eight starts over hurdles to date, but misses the Festival through injury.

Meanwhile, Noel Fehily rides the McManus-owned Buveur D’Air in the Champion Hurdle and Unowhatimeanharry in the Sun Bet Stayers’ Hurdle.