Jessie has a Supa day
SUPASUNDAE lowered the colours of Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Jessie Harrington’s stable star got the better of a prolonged duel with the former Champion Hurdler.
Faugheen was not disgraced and ran a lot better than his Christmas flop and connections have not ruled out a trip to Cheltenham.
The winner will stick to his Plan A to tackle the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival.
Faugheen made the running but was outjumped most of the way by Supasundae.
Robbie Power kicked after the last and Supasundae powered home to win.
A dejected Willie Mullins said of Faugheen: “I was disappointed with him. He’s sort of half back on track but he’ll have to improve a lot to be back where he was.”
Rider Paul Townend added: “He was better than at Christmas but he’s not quite there yet. He didn’t feel back to his Punchestown run but it was better.” Harrington, pictured left, said of the winner: “He’s never jumped as well before, he jumped absolutely super and was always travelling. “I thought they’d go too quick for him over two miles and Robert Power was sure when he had Faugheen in his sights at the last he would stay every inch of the way, and he did.
“I came here to give him a prep run for the three-mile hurdle at Cheltenham and to win this is some prep run.”
LEADING owner Rich Ricci is hoping Sharjah can today boost his Cheltenham Festival credentials at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins’ exciting novice won his first two races easily and would have made it three but for a crashing fall at the final flight. Sharjah is rated among the best of Mullins’ team of young horses and victory today could book his ticket for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle next month. But Ricci believes he has got it all to prove.
He told the
“I am hoping Sharjah will come out and do what he was going to do last time when he fell at the last.
“That would be nice to give us some options for Cheltenham.”
Sharjah is also entered in the 2m 4f Ballymore Hurdle at the Festival but Ricci hinted that his exciting Getabird could go for that contest.
He added: “It’s the million