Douvan has withdrawn from the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday.

Douvan’s odds took a hammering on Tuesday and Wednesday, which lead to rival Fox Norton becoming odds-on favourite.

Now his trainer Willie Mullins claims that he only decided to withdraw Douvan following poor work on Thursday – although clearly judging by the markets someone was very confident Douvan would not be running.

Mullins said: “Douvan worked very well at the Curragh on Tuesday, He cantered yesterday [Wednesday] . He did another little bit early this morning [Thursday] but I wasn’t entirely happy with him.

“Maybe he hadn’t fully recovered from what he did on Tuesday and I decided not to declare him for Sandown. No decision has been made when he will have his first run of the season.”

With Douvan and stablemate Un de Sceaux not making the trip, racing sponsors Betfair have been quick to cut the odds on favourite Fox Norton.

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr commented: ‘’Douvan’s no-show means 7 runners will go to post on Saturday and no surprise that Fox Norton is now odds-on at 4/6’’

‘’Having won 7 of the last 12 running’s of the Tingle Creek Paul Nicholls knows a thing or two about winning the race and his Haldon Gold Cup winner, Politologue, is next best at 5/2, with 11/1 bar these two.”