Faugheen flop is still a mystery for Mullins

FAUGHEEN remains on course to run in the Irish Champion hurdle at Leopardstown a fortnight on Saturday despite his inexplicable flop at the track’s Christmas meeting.

Trainer Willie Mullins yesterday described the run in which the 2-11 favourite was pulled up by jockey Paul Townend in the Ryanair hurdle as one of the most head-scratching of his illustrious training career.

But with tests on the 10-year-old having yielded no explanation, Mullins is pressing on.

he said: ‘We are as happy as can be expected. all his tests have come back fine. The next step is to do a little bit of fast work this week. If he passes that test I can’t see why we won’t be aiming for Leopardstown.’

Reflecting on the Christmas disappointment, Mullins (below) added: ‘By the time he got to the second hurdle Paul knew something was wrong. he seemed lifeless.

‘We have plenty of horses that run poorly. They are ordinary horses and it is one of those things. But for him to do it was headscratching. I just hope it doesn’t happen again.’

Faugheen spent the best part of two years off the track through injury. But he looked as good as ever when winning the Morgiana hurdle at Punchestown in november and prior to his flop had looked the only serious rival to nicky henderson’s Buveur D’Air in the Champion hurdle at Cheltenham.

For that to remain the case, Faugheen will have to go close to winning his second Irish Champion hurdle, in which he will be joined by stablemate Melon.

The race is part of the new two-day Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown which boasts seven grade One races and is worth £1.3million.

Described as the ‘best initiative in Irish racing for a long time’ by Mullins, the weekend fixture hopes to attract around 25,000 spectators, with the Irish gold Cup on day two.

Mullins is trailing rival gordon elliott by almost £445,000 in the Irish jumps trainers title and the meeting will go a significant way to deciding if he can hang on to his crown. his dual Cheltenham Festival winner Yorkhill will line up alongside stablemate Min in the Coral Dublin Chase. Meanwhile, un De Sceaux will try to win the Clarence house Chase for the third time for Mullins at ascot on Saturday.

ASCOT have announced a 10 per cent prize-money boost for 2018, with £7.3m up for grabs at the Royal meeting in June.