The Willie Mullins trained Douvan is set to make his anticipated return to the horse racing scene, in the forthcoming Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

Presently connections are preferring an outing in the Grade One contest on December 9 over an outing in either the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase or the Hilly Way Chase at Cork racecourse.

The eight-times Grade One winner has been sidelined since sustaining a stress fracture to his pelvis when finishing down the field in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, losing his unbeaten record over fences in the process.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has commented: “He has entries in the Hilly Way, John Durkan and Tingle Creek. I would say that the Tingle Creek looks like the one at the moment.

“We have got to pencil one in and the other races will be considered, but the Tingle Creek would be number one. Everything has been very good with him.”