HEEN AS A WHISTLE

Former Champion Hurdle hero the star turn at Punchestown

ALL eyes will be on the brilliant Faugheen as he makes his eagerly awaited return to the track in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown today.

The former Champion Hurdle hero, whose only defeat came in this race two years ago, reappears after an absence of 665 days.

Prior to being sidelined with injury Faugheen was shaping up as though he could develop into one of the great two mile hurdlers.

For two and a half seasons he carried all before him over jumps and his most recent outing was perhaps his most impressive.

On that occasion Faugheen destroyed his rivals in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, defeating Arctic Fire by 15 lengths.

It is most unlikely Faugheen will be able to perform to that level on his comeback but even so his form puts him in a different league.

There will surely be better to come from the former dual Cheltenham winner but he should still be too strong for Campeador. That one has only won one race since joining Gordon Elliott but he is a classy sort and he could well make up into a high class graded performer at this trip.

In the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase it is hard to look past the claims to Presenting Percy.

Pat Kelly’s charge turned in one of the best performances of last season when bolting up in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham.

His eagerly awaited chasing debut at Galway last month more than lived up to expectations as he ran out a smooth winner over De Plottng Shed.

This race represents a much tougher challenge but Presenting Percy jumped superbly at Galway and looked every inch a top notch novice chaser.

He looks too good for the decent mare Shattered Love who has won her first two outings over fences.

In the Craddockstown Novice Chase Tombstone can continue a superb run of form for Gordon Elliott (inset).

This former Grade 2-winning hurdler progressed from his first run over fences to score at Down Royal two weeks ago.

He does have a drop in trip but he should still be equal to the task at hand.

A GENUINE CLASS ACT Faugheen runs today and is fancied to leave the field behind