Bookmakers may have overreacted to return of Mullins stars

There is no secret how good Douvan and Djakadam are and this season's first sighting of the pair as Willie Mullins set them off on the road back to Cheltenham had bookmakers running for cover – but without full justification.

Djakadam has done a passable impression of habitual heroic failure Wayward Lad in the last two Gold Cups in finishing second, coming up just short on the stiff climb to the line.

His repeat win in the 2m4f John Durkan confirmed he has plenty of speed and guts, but for some firms to make him a single-figure price against the likes of Cue Card, Thistlecrack, Native River and his two Gold Cup conquerors Coneygree and Don Cossack is an overreaction in what looks sure to be a stronger race than last year.