FLOP FAUGHEEN ADDS TO WILLIE WOES
IF Willie Mullins thought his wretched week could not get any worse, it did when Faugheen was pulled up at Leopardstown.
Sent off the 1-6 favourite for the Ryanair Hurdle yesterday, the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner, who had only been beaten once in his 14 races, was expected to take this contest in his stride – without breaking into a sweat.
But after setting off in his customary front-running role, Paul Townend was soon sending out distress signals. His mount dropped through the field and was pulled up after jumping the third-last hurdle.
Trainer Mullins said: “At the moment Faugheen is sound. The vets have passed him fine.
“He’s not abnormal and not distressed. Paul said he just felt very lacklustre over the first few furlongs and he definitely wasn’t himself.
“I’m sure something will arise. He might be incubating a cold or something like that, but at the moment we don’t have any evidence of anything. The important thing is he’s sound to trot up, so it doesn’t look like he has any leg trouble.”
Owner Rich Ricci added: “Some of Willie’s horses have been in and out all week. Hopefully, it’s something that shows itself and we have a horse we can get ready for Cheltenham and fight another day with.
“There doesn’t appear to be any injury, so that’s something but it’s very disappointing.”
To say it has been a tough week for Mullins and Ricci is some understatement. On Thursday Mullins lost his star staying hurdler Nichols Canyon after he shattered his shoulder at Leopardstown.
Ironically, Nichols Canyon was the only horse to have beaten Faugheen over hurdles.
Earlier in the week Mullins and Ricci witnessed a series of unexpected defeats.
Min passed the post in front in Wednesday’s Paddy’s Rewards Chase only to lose the race in the stewards’ room, while Sharjah crashed out at the final flight when looking the winner of the Future Champions Novice Hurdle. On Thursday their dual Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam was pulled up in the Christmas Chase.
Yesterday it appeared their fortunes had turned when Let’s Dance won, but it was short-lived when Faugheen failed to fire.
The spate of bad luck followed the news earlier this month that Douvan, regarded as the best Mullins has ever trained, was forced to miss the season after failing to recover from an injury sustained at Cheltenham in March.
Ricci added: “Hopefully Faugheen isn’t injured. It’s the injuries that kill you.”
Buveur D’Air, winner of last season’s Champion Hurdle, is now 1-2 with Coral and Ladbrokes and 4-9 with Paddy Power to successfully defend the crown he won in March.
Faugheen has been taken out of the betting for the hurdling crown and Mick Jazz, who took advantage of his misfortune, received 25-1 quote for the race.