MRI scan reveals Mullins' star Douvan has fractured pelvis

Willie Mullins is confident Douvan will be able to return to the track in the autumn after an MRI scan revealed the Champion Chase disappointment had suffered a hairline fracture to his pelvis.

The exceptional seven-year-old jumped erratically and never threatened when attempting to stretch his winning run for Mullins to 14 in Wednesday's feature event. He was subsequently found to be lame behind and Mullins revealed the extent of the injury on Friday afternoon.

"Douvan has a stress fracture on his left ilium, which is his pelvis," he said.

"He'll have box rest and should be 100 per cent. The vets are recommending 12 weeks, but we'll see – that's the maximum. Everyone errs on the side of caution, but he'll do eight or ten weeks [box rest] and 12 if we need to."

Given fears that Douvan might have suffered a career-ending injury, Mullins expressed his relief at the prognosis.

"It's very good news," he said. "Bone injuries will come back 100 per cent. I'd be more worried if it was a ligament or a tendon, but it is bad timing. It's a common enough injury and he should start back the same as normal in the autumn.

"A lot of the time it's the sort of thing that would get put down as a muscle injury. To do an MRI scan might cost between £1,200 and £1,500, so lots of people when they go lame would leave them in until they come right, but we said we'd get it done. I'd say it happened early when he threw in one of those extraordinary jumps."

Douvan is a top-priced 3-1 to make amends in next year's Betway-backed Champion Chase, with Altior heading the market at 2-1.