The two-mile novice division has looked a decidedly open one over the last few weeks and the hope was that Douvan’s second start in Ireland would establish him as the standout performer in this discipline. The five-year-old duly proved his worth with a performance of real quality as he never came off the bridle to defeat the promising Alpha Des Obeaux in imperious fashion.

Having previously trounced the Grade 1 scorer Sizing John at Gowran, Douvan is looking an increasingly worthy favourite for the eagerly awaited Supreme Novices Hurdle, which will kick off the 2015 Cheltenham Festival. It is still early days and Cheltenham is two months away, but Douvan looks likely to assume the mantle of banker material for many punters when he lines up at Prestbury Park. The French import’s two starts in this country have borne all the hallmarks of a genuinely top-class novice hurdler and he does look like a horse of stellar potential.

Fairyhouse

Meanwhile, the Tim Doyle-trained Mallowney was the star turn at Fairyhouse last Sunday as he trounced his rivals in the Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase. A talented sort, this nine-year-old has long looked like one that could bag a good prize over two miles but the manner of this success was striking.

He never came off the bridle to win this €100,000 prize by 10 lengths and this display would indicate that he should have no trouble holding his own in graded company for the rest of the season.

Cheltenham will not be on his agenda though, with Tim Doyle favouring Punchestown’s Boylesports Champion Chase for the Oscar gelding.

Also worth a mention from Fairyhouse last weekend was the performance of the Willie Mullins-trained As Quart De Tour in the bumper. This Robin Des Champs gelding won a Dromahane point-to-point last season and looked the part at Fairyhouse where he defeated a useful looking field by five lengths. Interestingly, Mullins’ last two winners of this race were the Grade 1 bumper horses Champagne Fever and Lovethehigherlaw, which would bode well for this five-year-old.