No Opposing Douvan In Tied Cottage The unbeaten Douvan can extend his record to thirteen straight victories in Sunday's Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown. Willie Mullins' star performer will carry an eight pounds Grade 1 penalty against a maximum of five rivals in Sunday's contest but is streets above the opposition and is likely to be sent off one of the shortest priced favourites of the season. Douvan has started odds-on in all but one of his previous races (2/1 when beating stablemate Shaneshill in 2015 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham). Victory for Douvan will cement his grip on the two mile chasing division and no doubt further contract his odds to win at the Cheltenham Festival for the third straight year when he lines up for the Betway Queen Mother Chase on Wednesday 15th March. The Mouse Morris trained Smashing is Douvan's closest rival on official ratings in Sunday's entries but still has over a stone to find on the book. Smashing is a confirmed front runner and should win the battle for the early lead with Douvan but the latter is versatile and this is unlikely to pose any concern for the Mullins camp.
