DOUVAN WAS AT his devastating best as he capped an unbeaten season by winning the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Sent off the 2/9 favourite, Willie Mullins’ six-year-old eased clear to beat The Game Changer by 11 lengths with Sizing John in third.

Afterwards Mullins hinted that a step up to three miles and a shot at landing the trainer’s first-ever Cheltenham Gold Cup could be on the cards in 2017.

“The Champion Chase looks the obvious route,” he told RTÉ afterwards.

Do we want to take on Sprinter Sacre? I don’t know. Could we make a Gold Cup horse out of him? Maybe.

A crowd of 16,978 braved the unseasonable April weather and watched One Track Mind land the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle for Warren Greatrex at 10/1.

Ridden by Mark Walsh, Quantitativeeasing (9/4jf) won the La Touche Cup for Enda Bolger, holding off stablemate Cantlow and Nina Carberry by three lengths.

Punchestown – Thursday’s results

• 15.40 - 1. Elusive Ivy (16/1) 2. The Brock Inn (16/1) 3. Pakman (20/1) 4. Seeyouallincoppers (12/1)
• 16.15 - 1. Bright New Dawn (12/1) 2. Rock The World (10/3f) 3. Sizing Codelco (4/1 2f)
• 16.50 - 1. Quantitativeeasing (9/4jf) 2. Cantlow (9/2) 3. Ballyboker Bridge (5/2)
• 17.30 - 1. One Track Mind (10/1) 2. Jennies Jewel (33/1) 3. Alpha Des Obeaux (Evs f)
• 18.05 - 1. Cup Final (14/1) 2. Jury Duty (5/1f) 3. Burgas (16/1) 4. Tarabiyn (33/1)
• 18.40 - 1. Douvan (2/9f) 2. The Game Changer (9/1) 3. Sizing John (8/1 2f)
• 19.15 - 1. Missy Tata (6/4f) 2. Ria D’etel (5/1 2f) 3. Ten Times Better (14/1)
• 19.45 – 1. Invitation Only (9/10f) 2. Blast of Koeman (16/1) 3. Sunni May (7/1)

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Ireland’s Chloe and Sam Magee will have a shot at a European medal tomorrow