HERE’S a pub quiz question. Before his defeat in this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase when he suffered an injury, who is the only horse to beat the mighty Douvan? You might be surprised that it’s a 74-rated Flat horse who has thus far failed to cut the mustard in four runs in the UK. But it might be different on Monday…

KONIG DAX lowered the colours of Douvan when the latter made his racecourse debut over hurdles at St Malo in France in May 2014. The then four-year-old made all the running and showed a good turn of foot to quicken clear of the giant horse. After that defeat, Willie Mullins’ champion would set out on a 14-race unbeaten run that would include victories in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festivals in 2015 and 2016. There have also been six other Grade One successes.

Konig Dax then changed hands and was bought by Paul and Clare Rooney. He was sent to Donald McCain’s yard in Cheshire. His British debut over hurdles at Catterick was a huge disappointment as he trailed in 11th of 13 and when the Rooneys removed their horses from McCain he went to David Pipe’s. After his only race for Pipe, where he fell at Taunton, he went to the stable of Alistair Whillans near Hawick in Scotland.

Konig Dax has clearly had his problems but he has showed a bit of promise in four runs on the Flat this season. He was a decent third at Beverley and fourth at Ayr in class 4 handicaps. He did, however, take a bit of a backward step in his last run at Ayr.

Soft ground

However, at Carlisle on Monday (5.25) he could be a different proposition. Why? For the first time on the Flat he encounters genuine soft ground. When he scampered clear of Douvan, it was soft. In fact, it is officially heavy at the Cumbrian track. Konig Dax has made the running in his recent races over 1m 2f. But on close examination has appeared not to finish his races off particularly strongly. So he drops a furlong to 1m 1f, albeit it is a stiff nine furlongs. He is also down in grade to a class 5 and is 1lb lower than his last three races.

At the time of writing he is as big as 16/1. There are two other well handicapped horses in this race in Maraakib and Toboggan’s Fire. The latter will revel in the testing ground. Although he isn’t one to risk the shopping money on, I’ve backed Konig Dax each way. Win, lose, or draw he will always be known as “that horse who beat Douvan”.

Selection: Konig Dax (each way) 16/1 with most books.

Price correct at the time of writing.