WHEN we are looking forward to the National Hunt season and to where and with whom the great confrontations may take place, I found there is one random event, that if it were to take place, could just about trump some of the amazing scenes we have seen over the years at the Cheltenham Festival.

Faugheen will be 11 next festival. He probably has one big season left in him.

We saw at Punchestown that under the right conditions, the fire still burns.

Added to that, with the possible relief of a growth on his hip that might have been causing him discomfort, he could still be not far off his best.

In a recent column here, Patrick Mullins mentioned the possibility of him going chasing. He’s won a point-to-point in his early days. He’s quoted at 16/1 for the JLT and RSA Novices Chase. He’s 33/1 for the Gold Cup.

But, if he took to chasing, could it be an all or nothing finale?

Stick him in the Gold Cup. Send him all the way from the front as we’ve seen the novice Coneygree, and Native River do in recent years.

Willie Mullins could break his Gold Cup hoo-doo. Rich Ricci win chasing’s ultimate prize. A Mullins horse complete the Champion Hurdle/Gold Cup double.

Imagine the scenes. It doesn’t bear thinking about. You’ve never seen anything like it at Cheltenham! Stretcher for Ricci. Oxygen for Chapman.