Douvan primed for action in bid to atone for last year's flop

We've had a frustrating season with Douvan but all has gone well with him in recent weeks and we're looking forward to his festival return in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) in which he was so disappointing last year.

He was due to start back in the Tingle Creek Chase but intermittent lameness ruled out the Sandown race, and his intended engagement at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, so he goes into today's race without a run for 12 months.

He's been slowly working his way back to full fitness and when there was a chance at the weekend that he might wait for the Ryanair on Thursday, Ruby's views on the situation were what I wanted to hear. He wanted to ride him in today's race. We've been very happy with his recent work and how he has been since he arrived at the track at the weekend.