Douvan cut for Tingle Creek as bookmakers take hint from Mullins

Uncertainty over whether Douvan will return to action in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown has been replaced by confidence, at least in the eyes of the bookmakers, who make the star chaser no bigger than 6-4 for next month’s Grade 1.

Douvan had been eased to as big as 4-1 by Betfair last week after conflicting messages from trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci about whether Douvan or stablemate Un De Sceaux, owned by the O'Connell family, was the more likely to line up at Sandown.

However, with Mullins saying on Monday that he was “leaning towards” the Tingle Creek with Douvan, bookmakers have reacted by trimming his price ever closer to even money.

Barry Orr, spokesman for Betfair, said: “He was available at 4-1 last week but sustained support for Douvan saw us cut him again today to 11-10 (from 6-4).

“It’s fair to say our ante-post book on the race is decidedly one-sided and it looks virtually certain that himself and Un De Sceaux will swap engagements this year with the 2016 winner heading to the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.’’

Douvan has not raced since losing his unbeaten record over fences when seventh in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March, after which he was diagnosed with a small stress fracture to his pelvis.

He is the general 3-1 second favourite behind Altior for this season’s Champion Chase.

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