FAUGH PATROL Mullins’ star is on the hunt for more glory

FAUGHEEN should be the star on Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival’s final day when he lines up for the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle.

The 2015 Champion Hurdler (above) has been beaten only once in 13 starts over hurdles, when outpointed by Nichols Canyon – who tragically died yesterday – in the Morgiana at Punchestown in 2015.

And the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old looked as good as ever when returning to action in the same race last month, trouncing another former champion Jezki by 16 lengths.

He produced an electric display that day, setting a strong pace, jumping superbly and coasting home under Paul Townend who was on board for the first time and will be in the plate again today.

That victory was his first outing since slamming stable-companion Arctic Fire in the Irish Champion Hurdle over today’s course and distance in January 2016.

Faugheen, currently vying for Champion Hurdle favouritism with reigning champion Buveur D’air, has an official mark of 172 and has 19lb to spare over his nearest rival – stable companion Cilaos Emery – in a five-runner field on official figures.

Faugheen won’t appeal as a betting proposition to many and players will be more tempted to weigh-in on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monalee, at slight odds-on, for the other Grade 1 – the Neville Hotels Novice Chase over three miles.

A classy novice hurdler last season, his form included a Grade 3 victory in Clonmel, a creditable second to Penhill in the Albert Bartlett in Cheltenham and fourth spot in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle Grade 1 at the Punchestwon Festival.

The Milan gelding always looked likely to be a better chaser than hurdler and will relish today’s extra distance. With Davy Russell in the saddle, he is expected to prove his credentials for Cheltenham where the RSA Chase looks his likely target.