Townend: get ready for Douvan showstopper in Tingle Creek

Sandown should be tailor-made for Douvan, according to jockey Paul Townend, who is tingling with excitement at the prospect of riding the chasing superstar on his return over the Railway fences in this Saturday's showstopper.

Two-mile chases at Sandown are among the most exhilarating races in the calendar and this year's Betfair-backed Tingle Creek looks a pre-Christmas cracker, with multiple Grade 1 winner Douvan heading a cast that also features Fox Norton and Politologue.

Townend, who is unbeaten in three rides on Douvan, believes the track will be the perfect stage for the seven-year-old to showcase his jumping talents and erase the memories of his injury-influenced defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on his latest start.

"It's very exciting and I can't wait to ride him again," he said on Monday. "I've been lucky enough to ride him three times before and he has given me an amazing feel on each occasion.

"The chase track at Sandown can be a great place to ride around or a horrible place to ride around. It depends what you're on. It's not the most enjoyable experience if you're on a dodgy jumper – the fences come thick and fast, especially the Railway fences down the back.

"You'd like to think that Sandown is the perfect place for Douvan. He has always been a brilliant jumper and hasn't put a foot wrong so far. Let's hope that continues on Saturday."

So will plenty of punters, with Douvan odds-on across the board on Monday night. The race sponsor went 4-5, with 5-6 the best price on offer.

Douvan: could return at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Townend's three wins on Douvan have been by a combined winning distance of 48 lengths. He guided him to victory on his Irish debut in a novice hurdle at Gowran Park, where he destroyed this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John by 12 lengths.

He was then on board to win the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree by 14 lengths, while there were 22 lengths between him and Days Hotel in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork last December.

Douvan's winning streak came to an end at Cheltenham in March, where he incurred a stress fracture of his pelvis, and Townend says that performance is easily forgiven.

"You have to remember they're not machines, they're racehorses and injuries can be picked up," he said.

"Hopefully he's over his injury worries now and, from what I've seen of him at home, he certainly seems to be. Let's hope he can get back on track."

While Douvan is odds-on to return to winning ways, his rider will be taking nothing for granted, especially with this year's Champion Chase one-two Special Tiara and Fox Norton among the 11 entries along with the promising Politologue.

"It's his first run of the season and he's coming back from injury, so it won't be easy," admitted Townend. "He'll need to bring his A game.

"You'd have to be impressed by what Fox Norton has done so far and he seems to be improving all the time. They'll all be gunning for Douvan."

After winning on Faugheen in the Morgiana Hurdle and Total Recall in the Ladbrokes Trophy, Townend is certainly making the most of being parachuted into the spotlight since Ruby Walsh was sidelined with a broken leg.

Not surprisingly, he is loving every second of it.

"The fact Faugheen came up so quick in the Morgiana after Ruby's injury was great for me," said Townend. "The fact he won helped ease any nerves.

"Total Recall was terrific on Saturday too. Growing up, the Hennessy was always a great spectacle and a race I wanted to win, so to win the Ladbrokes Trophy, as it's now known, was a brilliant feeling.

"It's the same with the Tingle Creek. It's one of those races in the calendar everyone looks forward to. I'll be a little bit nervous going out to ride Douvan, but it's more nervous excitement.

"If I wasn't feeling a little bit nervous it would mean I was riding a rank outsider."

The Tingle Creek is not the only Grade 1 at Sandown on Saturday, but, reflecting the struggles of such contests to attract runners this season, the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, sponsored by Randox Health, was reopened on Monday after only five entries were received. It is the third year in a row the race has been reopened.

The ground at Sandown was given as good to soft, good in places on Monday. Rain is forecast on Thursday, with potentially a cold snap at the weekend.

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