Willie Mullins’ team are hoping star hurdler Faugheen can return to the head of the Champion Hurdle market as he is expected to take today’s Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The nine-year-old looked as classy as ever when adding an eighth Grade One to his name despite almost two years off the racecourse, winning the Morgiana in a canter.
Faugheen is now second favourite to reclaim the Champion Hurdle, after reigning champion Buveur D’Air won stylishly at Kempton on Boxing Day.
With only one defeat to his name, against yesterday’s fatal faller Nichols Canyon, he remains a short odds-on favourite to continue his winning run.
"All is good with Faugheen and he came out of Punchestown very well,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant to Willie.
"He was ready to go at Punchestown and, like we said before, we didn't give him a very long summer break.
"We just want to get him to Cheltenham in one piece and if he did what he did at Punchestown we would be very happy.
"He went well around Leopardstown before and he probably put up one of his best ever performances at the track when he won the Irish Champion Hurdle there.
"It looks a good opportunity for him and hopefully he will take another step down the road towards Cheltenham."
Gordon Elliott is represented by trio Campeador, Mick Jazz and The Game Changer, but the main danger is stablemate Cilaos Emery who finished fourth on his return in Grade One company.
Meanwhile Henry De Bromhead’s popular novice Monalee is seeking his first Grade One prize on the card.
A runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival, he won well on his debut over fences and is expected to reach the top of the novice chasing ranks this season.
“Monalee seems in good form, he’s stepping back up in trip and we will see how he goes.
"He won over three miles at Clonmel and he was second over three miles in the Albert Bartlett, so he has good form over that trip. Going back over three will hopefully suit him.
"I thought his last run was nice. He jumped well and he seemed good. Davy Russell was happy with him.
"We had a couple of options, but this seemed the best one and we saw that he was pretty good last season."
Willie Mullins’ pair Rathvinden and Bon Papa both have chances, whilst Jury Duty looks to be the strongest contender for Gordon Elliott.
TIP: Faugheen should prove very hard to beat as always and it may be a case of how much will he win by. I would imagine Campeador will chase him home in second, so the forecast could be the best bet in the race. Elsewhere on the card Bilko, The Gunner Murphy, Let’s Dance and Lesley Dawn all have big chances.
