Faugheen (Ire), (Germany) the reigning champion hurdler and previously a long odds on favorite to defend his crown at Cheltenham in four weeks time has picked up a suspensory ligament injury and has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season. Trainer Willie Mullins broke the news before racing at Punchestown on Tuesday and not only is it a bitter disappointment for Mullins, Ruby Walsh and owner Rich Ricci but also to the hordes of racing fans who looked forward to seeing him coming up the Cheltenham hill in March. Faugheen has won 12 of his 13 starts including seven Grade 1 hurdles and he looked better than ever when winning the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle on his latest run Jan. 24. Confirming the news Willie Mullins said, “When we started back working him this week we discovered he had a sore suspensory and, while it isn't a serious problem, it's come at a bad time and it means we've had to abandon plans to run him in the Champion Hurdle. We just thought better to stop now and bring him back next year. The prognosis is very good.” Mullins received some good news later in the day when Annie Power (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}) also owned by Rich Ricci made a successful seasonal debut ahead of her trip to Cheltenham next month.
Her target is undecided but in the wake of the Faugheen news Mullins has the option of supplementing the triple Grade 1 winner for the G1 Stan James Champion hurdle in which she could join stablemates Arctic Fire (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Nichols Canyon (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) and Sempre Medici (Fr) (Medicean {GB). “That could happen as the balls are bouncing a bit different today,” said Mullins on a potential target switch for Annie Power. “We'll see how she progresses. I always thought she was a two-and-a-half-mile mare – that's the distance that she could really shine – but she has enough speed to go back to two miles.”
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