He's back: Douvan set to return from 569-day absence in Clonmel Oil Chase

Douvan is set to return to the racecourse following a 569-day absence after the eight-time Grade 1 winner was declared for the Clonmel Oil Chase on Wednesday by trainer Willie Mullins.

The nine-year-old has not appeared since finishing second to Un De Sceaux in the Champion Chase at the Punchestown festival in April 2018.

After joining Mullins five years ago, Douvan won his first 13 starts for the trainer including success in the 2015 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and 2016 Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, he could only manage seventh in the Champion Chase the following year and has only run twice since.

Douvan is set to take on four rivals in the Grade 2 contest, including Flogas Chase scorer Monalee and last month's Daily Star Chase winner Jett.

The Gigginstown-owned Tout Est Permis and Peter Fahey-trained Peregrine Run have also been declared.

The highs and lows of Douvan

Rise to the top

Douvan's stable debut for Willie Mullins was the first sign of what was to come as he secured a 12-length success in a novice hurdle at Gowran Park in November 2014 from Sizing John, who would become one of his greatest rivals.

He followed that up with a comfortable success ahead of Alpha Des Obeaux in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer at Punchestown, his first run under Ruby Walsh.

Festival king

His rapid rise to the big time continued with his first top-level victory at the Cheltenham Festival in the 2015 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh celebrates victory aboard Douvan in the 2015 SupremeCredit: Patrick McCann

He added another Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival the following month in the Champion Novice Hurdle. It was neck and neck between Douvan and Sizing John from two out but he turned it up a gear after jumping the last to cruise clear by seven and a half lengths.

At the top

On Boxing Day 2015 he registered his sixth win in a row for Mullins and third Grade 1 victory, blitzing Sizing John once again by an emphatic 18 lengths.

At the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, he continued to dominate the future Cheltenham Gold Cup hero with success in the Racing Post Arkle.

View the result and replay of Douvan's Arkle victory here

For the second time in his career, he went off at 1-14 at Punchestown in 2017 and duly obliged with a scintillating round of jumping to extend his winning run for Mullins to 13. He hasn't won since.

Shock defeat

Despite going off at 2-9 for the 2017 Champion Chase at Cheltenham, Douvan never looked happy and and finished seventh of ten and nearly 12 lengths behind winner Special Tiara.

Comeback

Douvan returned to action almost a year later for another shot at the Champion Chase, but was unable to finish after falling four from home, with Altior eventually coming home in front.

Paul Townend's mount showed flashes of his old brilliance when second to Un De Sceaux in the Punchestown Champion Chase in April 2018, his last appearance.

Clonmel Oil Chase card

The following 2m4½f Listed mares chase (3.20) has also attracted an interesting field.

Listen Dear, who has been subject to an intense sales dispute, is among the declarations. Members of the Supreme Horse Racing Club, who previously owned the mare, have sent a letter to the Goffs auction house claiming that they did not consent to the nine-year-old's sale for £38,000 last month.

The 2018 JLT winner Shattered Love is also set to line up.

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