Emery supports Douvan on P'town card Douvan’s appearance in the Tied Cottage Chase and the Grand National Trial take centre stage at Punchestown on Sunday but the supporting card does feature a potentially very interesting Listed I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle. The two miles contest features seven runners with Champion Trainer Willie Mullins well represented by both Cilaos Emery and Camelia De Cotte. Both are unbeaten in Ireland with French bred Cilaos Emery bidding to maintain an unbeaten record having won his bumper at this venue in April before adding an impressive maiden hurdle win at Navan in December to his tally. Cilaos Emery is a leading fancy for the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and it is no surprise that Mullins’ stable jockey Ruby Walsh has sided with the gelding over Camelia De Cotte, which herself won easily on her Irish debut at Tramore but now takes a big step up in class. Mick Jazz has done well for his new trainer Gordon Elliott and has his chance while stablemate and French import Sire Du Berlais is an interesting contender on Irish debut, having won on his latest hurdles starts last May. The next Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) is another race where Cheltenham possibles go on show with the Mullins trained The Crafty Butcher a live contender having filled third place in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and now reverts to hurdling from a generous looking 128 rating. Elsewhere on the card, the Enda Bolger trained Colour Squadron makes his banks debut in the P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase. The J.P. McManus owned gelding was a smart type when trained by Philip Hobbs in the past and some encouragement can be taken from his reappearance win in a point to point at Kilfeacle in January.
