FAUGHEEN will be primed to try to regain his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival.

Injury forced the 2015 hero on to the sidelines for the best part of two years, but he looked as good as ever when making a successful comeback in the Morgiana Hurdle.

He blotted his copybook at Leopardstown over Christmas, but at least then ran respectably when second to Supasundae in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

"It was great that he came out and won the Morgiana and you think everything is great," said trainer Willie Mullins, who could also saddle Yorkhill, Melon and Wicklow Brave in the Champion Hurdle.

"He ran a grand race the last day, a lot better than Christmas, but he'll have to up his game to go and win in Cheltenham.

"He mightn't need to be as good as he once was and I still think he's competitive. We haven't gone downhill, anyway - we're going up.

"Faugheen might never come back to what he was. I'm delighted he was what he was. He might come back to that, but age is not on his side."

Footpad has run well without winning at the last two Festivals but heads there this year as possibly the Mullins banker in the Arkle.

"He always had ability but his jumping has catapulted him right to the top over fences," said the champion trainer.

"I see him as a potential Gold Cup horse as he stays. It's never stopped horses going that route, running in the Arkle. We don't have any problems with him staying.

"He's just a natural jumper, gets to the other side quickly and has no fear."

Djakadam has twice finished second in the race and is once again likely to try his luck in the Rich Ricci silks

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup

Willie Mullins has plenty of Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup options as he strives to finally land the blue riband next month. Djakadam has twice finished second in the race and is once again likely to try his luck in the Rich Ricci silks.

"There's a lot of feeling that he should go back to the Ryanair, and that might happen, but I feel he should go for the Gold Cup," said Mullins.

"He doesn't look the same horse on the track this season. He certainly hasn't fired like he has in other seasons."

The champion trainer is likely to be well represented in the big one on March 16th.

He added: "Killultagh Vic is straightforward and he goes for the Gold Cup. We were very happy with his last run (a last-fence faller in the Irish Gold Cup).

"He looked in a good position and I wouldn't have been betting against him going to the last - he had the momentum going to the last.

"I thought he had a very good chance and I've no worries about his stamina.

"Total Recall obviously had the Grand National as his main aim but I think he's going to go for the Gold Cup.

"He's a relaxed horse and he jumps economically so I think that will suit him in a Gold Cup.

"Bachasson's connections are keen for him to run, too. He's a brilliant jumper but the Gold Cup might be a tough race for him.

"I've been second six times but some good trainers won't have six runners in it in their careers so I think I've been lucky.

"We've a nice hand this year. It looks an open race and if you have a horse of that calibre, you have a go."