Failing to respect a former champion can be very expensive. Punters allowed Faugheen to start as the 11-2 third-favourite for the Stayers Hurdle here, while the jockeys on his dozen rivals allowed him to pinch a healthy lead when the tape went up and all looked a trifle foolish when he romped home 13 lengths clear.
Aged 10 and without a win to his name since November, Faugheen was supposed to be a back number and there was speculation that this might be his final race if he failed to show any of the old spark. But being allowed to bowl along in front against three-milers suited him perfectly and he returned to the warmest welcome of the week.
This was the moment when Willie Mullins secured his trainer’s title for another year, since he had the first three home, and he followed up with Footpad, who enjoyed a facile success in the Ryanair Novice Chase. Mullins now leads Gordon Elliott by more than €400,000, having trailed by a similar margin on Tuesday morning.
Evidently even the Carlow man could not have expected such a revival from Faugheen, having witnessed a thoroughly depressing piece of work from the horse on Saturday. “I don’t know how slow he came up,” said Mullins, who watched next to his injured jockey, Ruby Walsh. “We just looked at one another and turned away from the gallop and said, well, we’ll run him anyhow.”
The winning owner, Rich Ricci, has become accustomed to greater success than he has enjoyed this winter but said this made up for a lot. “The ball hasn’t bounced our way all season and to have something like this with a great horse ... it means everything.”
Both Ricci and Mullins seem prepared to at least think about sending Faugheen novice-chasing in the autumn, which is certainly not the orthodox thing to do with a 10-year-old ex-Champion Hurdler. But anyone who thinks they can teach Mullins something about the game will have to pick a different week.Elliott put on a brave face, his only success on the day having come in a handicap hurdle.
“That shows the man Willie Mullins is,” said. “We just have to keep our heads up and keep smiling.”
Perth 1.30 Floral Bouquet 2.05 Thorpe 2.40 Rons Dream 3.15 Our Lucas 3.45 Kings Eclipse 4.15 Mill Forge 4.45 Cultram Abbey 5.15 Imperial Acolyte
Doncaster 1.40 Knightly Spirit 2.15 Jessinamillion (nb) 2.50 Nibras Again 3.25 Azpeitia 3.55 Character Witness 4.25 Major Pusey 5.00 Angel Gabrial 5.35 Edge Of The World
Sandown 1.50 Kings Shield 2.25 What About Carlo (nap) 3.00 Chilean 3.35 Addeybb 4.05 Diamond Dougal 4.35 Highgarden 5.05 Glencadam Master
Towcester 4.40 Totterdown 5.10 Indian Hawk 5.40 Bertie Barnes 6.15 Bennys Girl 6.50 After Aspen 7.20 Bredon Hill Lad 7.55 Yellow Dockets
Chepstow 4.50 Indian Hercules 5.20 Hollywood Ken 5.50 Dauphine Ereine 6.25 Mortens Leam 7.00 Tinkers Hill Tommy 7.35 Heresmynumber 8.05 Lad Of Luck
Tips by Chris Cook.
