Douvan likely for Punchestown on Saturday Douvan has been confirmed by trainer Willie Mullins as a likely starter in the Sportinglife.com Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday. The five-year-old excelled on his Irish debut at Gowran in November with a 12-length defeat of subsequent Grade One scorer Sizing John. Douvan is the ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and could be joined in the line-up at Punchestown by stablemate Nichols Canyon. Mullins, who has won the race for the last two years, said: "Douvan is in good order and his form was franked at Leopardstown when Sizing John won the Grade One hurdle." Six other horses have been confirmed for the Grade Two over two miles, which has been won over the years by the likes of Kicking King, Mikael D'Haguenet and, most recently, Vautour. Tony Martin could saddle Blair Perrone and Marinero, while Mouse Morris is also doubly represented at this stage by Alpha Des Obeaux and Baily Cloud. Domesday Book and Rock On The Moor, trained respectively by Henry de Bromhead and Jessica Harrington, complete the list.
