How much of a force can Douvan be at the top level this season?

Douvan returned with two questions to answer: how much ability does he retain? And how likely is he to hold his form after running just three times since March 2017?

He could never answer question two today, so naturally doubts remain, and while signs were positive on the first point it is hard to escape the conclusion that his only Grade 1-class rival in the Clonmel Oil Chase was not fully wound up.

Douvan at his peak was a horse to fear – an Altior-less Champion Chase would have been his for the taking for a start – but there remains enough uncertainty to discourage from investing in any of the current ante-post offerings.
Keith Melrose, Betting Editor