Willie Mullins admits it is not ideal that Douvan has faced a total of just five rivals in his last two races, but he is as excited as everyone else about the odds-on Racing Post Arkle Trophy favourite.

Winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last season, Douvan has barely put a foot wrong in three outings over fences.

While he faced 13 rivals on his chasing debut at Navan, the opposition has been thin on the ground since moving up to Grade One level.

"The few times he's run he's been very good and he's been good at home as well," Mullins told At The Races.

"It is a worry (he has faced small fields and inferior opposition), but what can we do? I hope it's something similar in Cheltenham!

"There's a couple of nice horses in England, but hopefully he'll jump around safely and we'll see after that.

"He's laid-back, he has a temperament like a child's pony, I think. He's by Walk In The Park and a lot of people were worried that he had a bad temperament, but looking at him, and Min they're both nice. Min might be keen racing, but in his stable he's a lovely horse.

"I've been pleased every time with his jumping. Even when he makes a mistake, he seems to know where his feet are and he picks himself up. He's never looked in danger.

"He goes his own pace. The day Patrick (Mullins) rode him at Christmas, we knew what we wanted to do, but Patrick said he jumped off in a canter and seemed to be doing it at his ease and changed tactics after the first fence.

"He captures my imagination every time I see him, hopefully he stays sound."