Douvan in a Different League The 2015 Punchestown Festival gets underway with a bang today courtesy of the Grade 1 Herald Novice Hurdle (4.20pm) where Willie Mullins' superstar, Douvan, looks set to go off a rock-solid favourite. Douvan For The Double Having won four of his five hurdle races, this 5yo looks destined for the top next season, and has already been punted into 6/1 for the 2016 Champion Hurdle. That price came courtesy of a massively impressive victory in last month's Supreme Novices' Hurdle when storming home by over 4l, despite racing freely in the early stages. Clearly in a different league to those Douvan looks set to face on Tuesday, he will be looking to emulate last year's winner, Faugheen, who also won at Cheltenham prior to landing this prize. As a proven C&D winner who goes on both good to soft and heavy ground, there aren't many cracks in Douvan's profile, and it will be a major shock if he is turned over here. If you back Douvan with BoyleSports and he fails to win, they'll give you your money back as a free bet. A no-brainer here. John Sizing Up Another Crack Looking to get closer to Douvan this time around will be Henry De Bromhead's Sizing John, who was 7l behind at Cheltenham having been headed just before the last. A Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown beforehand, Sizing John may have been a lot shorter in price in a normal renewal of this race, but will need to find more reversing form with Douvan. Sizing John did at least make the top three at Cheltenham, which has been a good pointer for this race down the year If you back Sizing John or anyone else in this race with BoyleSports and they finish 2nd to Douvan, you'll get your money back as a free bet also. Trends Summary Of the last 10 Champion Novice winners - 10 returned 8/1 or shorter10 made the top three last time out8 were Irish-bred While the stats suggest one of the aforementioned pair should win from the fancied end of the market, there is still plenty of each-way value around, including Rich Coast, who is a Grade 3 winner and was keeping on to be beaten 6l in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last time (2m, soft). Almost 2l behind Rich Coast at Fairyhouse was Blair Perrone, while Velocity Boy recorded a career best in a minor novice last time (2m4f, heavy) and may need the ground to soften if getting into the race. Recommended Bets Having already established himself as the leading novice around, another impressive victory for Douvan today may see his price for next year's Champion Hurdle contract further, though punters have the opportunity to make the most today's opportunity with BoyleSports' offers which continue throughout the week, 30 over in 5 days in total.
