IT’S THE TALK OF THE TOWN
FAUGHEEN is the headline act as the inaugural €1.5m Dublin Racing Festival gets under way at Leopardstown today.
But Willie Mullins’ star — once dubbed ‘the machine’ — has to prove all his parts are in working order in the Irish Champion Hurdle, one of seven Grade 1 races over the two-day fixture.
Paul Townend, on board for the 10-year-old’s comeback win in Punchestown’s Morgiana Hurdle in November — but also Faugheen’s flop when pulled up in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown in December — admitted: “He has to bounce back.
“But he’s been fine since he disappointed at Christmas. Hopefully he can put in a performance like he did at Punchestown.”
With Ruby Walsh sidelined with a broken leg, Townend has the choice of Mullins’ awesome squad over the weekend, including Yorkhill, Footpad, Sharjah and Djakadam.
“It’s an exciting time, especially for me with Ruby being out,” added the 27-year-old. “There’s a huge amount of prize money and I’m sure it will be a success. I’m really looking forward to it.”
DEFI DU SEUIL gets the vote to bounce back to form to lift the Irish Champion Hurdle (3.30) at Leopardstown today.
Philip Hobbs’ fiveyear-old has a reputation to restore after a well-beaten fourth in Ascot’s Coral Hurdle 10 weeks ago on his sole outing of the winter.
But Richard Johnson’s mount was the cream of the crop among the juveniles last season, crowning his unbeaten campaign with a five-length romp in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last March.
Willie Mullins-trained market rivals Faugheen (pulled up at 2-11 last time) and Melon (0-2 at Grade 1 level) also have question marks against them, and the vibes from the back-inform Hobbs are that Defi Du Seuil has recaptured his sparkle.
Mullins should have better luck with the exciting
FOOTPAD in the Grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase (2.20) and MIN, who is preferred to his mercurial stable-companion Yorkhill in the Grade 2 Coral Dublin Chase (1.45).
RACING UK yesterday announced it will be the new home to Irish racing from January 1, 2019. It has broadcast on rival station At The Races since its launch in 2014.