Stan James Champion

Hurdle (Grade 1)

A LANDMARK day in the career of Willie Mullins was headed by a stellar display from Faugheen who answered every question asked of him and many more with a front-running tour de force in the Champion Hurdle.

As he led home an unprecedented one-two-three in the race for his trainer, Faugheen dispelled any doubts regarding his status as an elite two miler with a dominant display, central to which was a superbly judged Ruby Walsh ride.

Now undefeated in nine starts on the track, Faugheen has all the qualities necessary to develop into Mullins’ new colossus of the two-mile hurdling division.

For some five years that mantle has belonged to stablemate Hurricane Fly and, although beaten, that one ran a fine race in third and for a period if looked as though he might give Faugheen most to do. Ultimately though, second place went to the big improver Arctic Fire, who could now embark on an ambitious flat campaign.

In two previous starts over two miles Faugheen had looked every inch a Champion Hurdle horse and he was very comfortable here in what was easily the most daunting assignment of his career.

Admittedly he was allowed to dictate his own tempo but his rivals had every chance to land a telling blow and none were able to match the Susannah Ricci-owned star.

Faugheen’s jumping was generally good although he was untidy at the second last and it was at this point that he was being harried by both Jezki and The New One.

The 4/5 favourite was quickly back on an even keel and, in a manner befitting a top class hurdler, he quickened away when straightening up for home.

For a period in the straight Hurricane Fly looked the biggest danger but the patiently ridden Arctic Fire came home strongly to finish a length and a half second. There was a further five lengths back to Hurricane Fly with Jezki and The New One filling the next two placings.

“I was wondering if he could take on these proper Grade 1 horses over two miles and beat them and he did and Ruby rode him with huge confidence. Ruby was committed to this horse’s ability far earlier than I was and the horse has shown that today. He’s young, he’s improving and hopefully there’s more to come,” said Mullins.

“Last year when he won here I didn’t see him coming back for a Champion Hurdle. He hit quite a few hurdles that day and I thought that he would need fences to make him jump. Ruby was very keen on him going hurdling and that was a key factor.

“The plan with all three horses would be to head to Punchestown although the Aintree Hurdle is a race we will consider for one of them. It’s a race I haven’t won and I would like to win and maybe the way Arctic Fire finished out his race suggests that he could be the one for that.

“I am thinking of going back to the flat with Arctic Fire and I’ll see if we can go the Simenon route and see if he can develop into a Melbourne Cup horse.

“Hurricane Fly was working well and ran a fantastic race. I thought he was the biggest danger at one stage although he may just have apprceciated easier ground.”

Meanwhile Ruby Walsh was able to reflect on the successful decision to switch from old ally Hurricane Fly to Faugheen.

“It was a massive decision not to ride Hurricane Fly. I knew the betting reflected that I was always going to ride Faugheen but when you are in a stable like Willie’s and you see what Hurricane Fly is doing at home, it’s still a big call to make,” said the jockey.

“This is probably the best feel I’ve ever had from this horse and it was his biggest challenge. Also it’s some training performance to have the one-two-three and the one-two in the Supreme. It’s a great place to work and the man (Willie) is a genius. He has a brilliant team of staff around him and it’s brilliant to be a part of it.”