Vaniteux is '˜in good order' as he takes on '˜scary' Douvan

The New One, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, right, jumps the last with Vaniteux, ridden by Barry Geraghty, left, in the StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham (Picture: David Davies/PA Wire).

Having won last season’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in scintillating style, Douvan is unbeaten from three starts over fences and has been named by all-conquering Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins as his “best prospect” of the week.

Given that he is likely to saddle up to 60 runners at the meeting – more than the number of horses in Sue and Harvey Smith’s High Eldwick string, for example – Henderson was keen to play down expectations after Vaniteux won the Grade Two Lightning Novices Chase at Doncaster.

“This has always been on the radar for Vaniteux,” he said. “Douvan has always been there and we all watched him, how he won the Supreme last year, and he is probably the biggest banker of the week – we are going to have to go some against him.

“Vaniteux is in good order and if we ride him to finish second he would definitely finish second. Douvan is so good. Fences are like hurdles to him. He is scary. Like I say, Vaniteux is in good order – I can’t see us beating this brute, but we will try to.”

As for Douvan, whose imposing reputation means that he will only face six rivals, owner Richi Ricci eulogised about the horse’s ability.

It is only because Ricci has so many top class horses at his disposal that Douvan was not given the chance to try to win the Champion Hurdle, which the owner won 12 months ago with the injury-sidelined Faugheen. He relies on Annie Power today.

“He is so elegant and is such a wonderful mover. He is a monster and is something special. He is so tall, if he was a human he would be Cary Grant,” said Ricci. “He does things effortlessly and he knows he is good looking. I just hope he stays sound as he could be anything.”

Yorkshire form could pay off in the Grade Three Ultima Handicap Chase in which trainer Warren Greatrex saddles Out Sam, who followed up a facile Catterick win with a more accomplished win at Newbury.

Significantly Greatrex, and in-form jockey Gavin Sheehan, believe this race is more winnable than tomorrow’s RSA Chase, which had been the intended target for Out Sam.

They are also targeting today’s finale with Aloomomo.

Hot favourite Un De Sceaux will face nine rivals in tomorrow’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Last year’s brilliant Arkle hero is odds-on across the board to provide Willie Mullins with his first win in the two-mile showpiece and comes up against three former winners in Nicky Henderson’s Sprinter Sacre, Gary Moore’s stable star Sire De Grugy and the Paul Nicholls-trained Dodging Bullets.