Douvan spearheads Champion challenge

Hot favourite Douvan heads the 28 entries for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Unbeaten in 12 starts since joining Willie Mullins, Douvan will be bidding for a third Festival success after his wins in the 2015 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and last year's Racing Post Arkle Chase.

He could be joined in the race by stable companion and last year's Arkle runner-up Un De Sceaux, who underlined his credentials when winning the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

Mullins has a strong hand in the Champion Chase with Champagne Fever, Black Hercules and Vroum Vroum Mag also entered.

Special Tiara landed the Desert Orchid Chase for Henry de Bromhead last time out and he is another strong Irish contender along with Sizing John from Jessica Harrington's yard.

The Irish interest is completed by Alisier D'Ireland, also from De Bromhead, and the Gordon Elliott-trained Tell Us More and The Game Changer.

Nicky Henderson has entered last year's Supreme Novice hero Altior but the Seven Barrows trainer is unlikely to pit his charge against Douvan, preferring to concentrate on the Arkle, although he could run L'Ami Serge and Vanuteux.

Former winner Sire De Grugy could bid for a second victory in the race for Gary Moore, who is also responsible for Ar Mad and Traffic Fluide, while Paul Nicholls will have to rely on Dodging Bullets.

Fox Norton, Sizing Granite and Viconte Du Noyer could take their chance for Colin Tizzard with Garde La Victoire and Royal Regatta are possibles for Philip Hobbs, while Tom George has entered God's Own and Sir Valentino.

Uxizandre, Simply Ned, Just Cameron and Eastlake complete the entries.

Douvan has also been entered in the Ryanair Chase the following afternoon.

A number of horses have been given the option of the longer event with Ar Mad, Black Hercules, Champagne Fever, Dodging Bullets, Fox Norton, God's Own, Royal Regatta, Sizing John, Traffic Fluide, Un De Sceaux, Uxizandre, Vaniteux, Viconte Du Noyer and Vroum Vroum Mag handed an entry in the Grade One.

The 48 entries are headed by Cue Card, who was an impressive winner of the race in 2013, but he is one of the leading contenders for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup and connections must decide whether to take their chance against stablemate Thistlecrack or drop down to two-and-a-half miles for the Ryanair.

There are 18 Irish-trained entries with Willie Mullins responsible for seven of those. As well as Douvan, Mullins has entered dual Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam, while Gordon Elliott has Empire Of Dirt, Outlander and Roi Des Francs.

Former World Hurdle winner More Of That is a possible for Jonjo O'Neill.

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