Easy for Douvan in Tied Cottage

Douvan delivered again, as a 1/14 chance, when taking the 4-runner Grade 2 Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown in style.

We were down to three unfortunately, when Smashing pulled up quickly before the fourth last fence.

Soon dictating, Douvan put his seal on the two miler from before the last, which he attacked with relish, before sauntering away up the run-in for a six and a half length win over Realt Mor

They left Draycott Place thirty one lengths behind.

Douvan - too good... pic.twitter.com/c4lRAwSXa1

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 5, 2017

"He's deadly. I thought Smashing would go a bit quicker but obviously he wasn't up for it today and he never really took me. I jumped by him at the first and he just sauntered around at his own speed and done his own thing," said Walsh.

"I gave him a squeeze at the back of the second last and he jumped out through the bridle. He won as he liked — probably as you'd expect him to win.

"I'd suppose it's the old adage — the better horse you ride, the faster they go and the easier it is to ride them.

"He just has a huge amount of natural ability — he's a pleasure to ride.

"You don't have to do anything on him — you just have to sit there. He's looking himself. If he wants to go in he goes in and if he wants to stand out he stands out.

"You're only tactically riding the race — the jumping is up to him. That's the way it is with good horses.

"Cork got a great crowd when he turned up there, Leopardstown the same and here today. He's a wonderful horse and it's great to see people coming out to watch him."

Willie Mullins, doubling his score after the earlier win of Isleofhopendreams remarked: "I'm relieved that's over. He's probably not showed anything that he hasn't showed us before."

Douvan remains a 1/3 shot for the Champion Chase with Boylesports and Paddy Power.

D.N. Russell, rider of Smashing (FR) trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount pulled up lame.

(AM & EM)