Douvan boosts Champion Chase claims with smooth success at Punchestown

Douvan completed his Cheltenham Festival preparations in style as he strolled to victory in the BoyleSports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.Trainer Willie Mullins felt we learnt nothing new as the seven-year-old barely came out of second gear to lift the Grade Two prize at the prohibitive odds of 1-14 in the hands of Ruby Walsh. Douvan made virtually all in the four-runner affair and his task was made even easier when his nearest market rival Smashing was pulled up, leaving Realt Mor to finish a six-and-a-half-length second with Draycott Place beaten a further 31 lengths in third. Walsh said: "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 on. I jumped by him at the first and he just sauntered around at his own speed and done his own thing."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." Mullins himself was pleased to have Douvan's Champion Chase prep completed, adding : "I'm relieved that's over. He's probably not showed anything that he hasn't showed us before."