Douvan heads Hilly Way entries Douvan, the outstanding novice chaser of last season is set to appear for the first time in the current campaign in the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday. Unbeaten in ten starts for Willie Mullins, Douvan was the winner of five Grade 1 chases last term and his victories included the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the Maghull Novice Chase at Aintree and the Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival. The champion trainer has also entered another of his 2016 Cheltenham Festival winners, Black Hercules who was successful in the Grade 1 JLT Novices´ Chase as he bids to win the €50,000 event for the ninth time in ten years. Kerry Lee is no stranger to success on this side of the Irish Sea and she too has made two entries for Sunday’s feature event. The Herefordshire trainer has entered Top Gamble, successful in the Grade 2 Normans Grove Chase at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival in March and the seven-time winner, Grey Gold. Successful in the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival in 2015 and fourth in the Aintree Grand National in April of this year, Gilgamboa could yet represent Enda Bolger while Henry de Bromhead could run Days Hotel who was successful in this race four years ago. Gordon Elliott is another with two entries. He has put both The Game Changer and Vukovar who would be having his first start for the season’s leading trainer. Mozoltov could make his debut for trainer Mouse Morris and completing the early line-up are Stuart Crawford’s Fine Rightly, Andrew Lee’s Ludo Et Emergo and Toon River, trained by Mary Louise Hallahan. Andrew Hogan, Manager of Cork Racecourse, said, “This Sunday is one of the highlights of our year, featuring the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase which has clearly attracted some of the best horses around. "The main races on the supporting card are the Grade 3 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle and the Grade 3 Kerry Group European Breeders Fund Mares Novice Chase and we are delighted with the high calibre of entries. It is shaping up to be a wonderful day’s racing.”
