Punchestown day 3 preview: Brilliant Douvan set to sparkle

Today’s racing in Punchestown has two Grade 1 races on the card, and racing fans are in for a treat as Douvan lines up for the Ryanair Novice Chase. The brilliant six-year-old won the Novice Hurdle over a two mile distance last year, and it’s hard to see him being beaten when he takes to the track for the 6.40pm race this evening.

Gordon Elliot trained The Game Changer will most likely present the biggest challenge to Douvan, and considering the hardship that Willie Mullins faced on the opening day of the festival when both Yorkhill and Vautour were beaten, it isn’t inexplicable to envisage a loss for a horse that he has described as one of the best novices he has ever had. The Game Changer won in Punchestown on similar ground over the same distance last October, and though this will undoubtedly be a massive step up in class, there are high hopes that he can present some sort of challenge to Douvan.

The Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle is the other Grade 1 on the card this afternoon, and that promises to be a much more evenly matched race. Alpha Des Obeaux is the market leader in this one, and he certainly looks to be an interesting prospect with odds of 5/4. The Mouse Morris trained six-year-old has been a perennial runner-up for the majority of his career, but those losses have come behind some brilliant horses and the lack of a really top class challenger should suit him in this race.

Willie Mullins trained Shaneshill will draw plenty of attention from punters however, and it’s easy to see why. His form is relatively good leading into this one, with his last outing ending in a second place finish behind Thistlecrack. He won a bumper in Punchestown two years ago as four-year-old , and the 7/2 odds on him to capture the World Series Hurdle are likely to attract plenty of interest from punters today.