Friday 17 November 2017 16:47, UK
Connections of Faugheen have admitted to feeling a degree of apprehension ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return to action in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.
Last seen when demolishing the opposition by 15 lengths in the Irish Champion Hurdle in January 2016, Faugheen was declared for last season's Hatton's Grace Hurdle only to be withdrawn the day before and champion trainer Willie Mullins could never quite get him right after that.
"We're counting down the minutes to Sunday," said Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father.
"He had a short summer break as he was in training last year around Punchestown so we kept him going, but he's had two years off and is nine going on 10.
"We're a little bit apprehensive, but John Cobb, who rides him every day, feels he is back to where he is happy with him and he's ready to start.
"When he won the Irish Champion Hurdle he was extraordinary - when you look at what was behind him, Nichols Canyon, he's won eight Grade Ones and Arctic Fire has been placed in Champion Hurdles.
"If he comes back to that sort of form he'll be very hard to beat, but he's an older horse now and he's had two years off, so it's not realistic to expect a performance like that on Sunday."
Faugheen emerged as a star for the stable just as another extraordinary hurdler, Hurricane Fly, was nearing the end of his career.
Mullins added: "He's a completely different horse to Hurricane Fly. He was always ridden for speed, he was never going to win by 10 lengths as he was only ridden to win from the last hurdle, whereas that day at Leopardstown, Ruby (Walsh) let Faugheen go on from a mile out.
"Faugheen won a novice hurdle over three miles in heavy ground, but a lot of the really good horses can do that, Kauto Star was as good at two miles as he was at three and a quarter. He's very versatile, but a lot of the top-class ones are."
Vroum Vroum Mag is another on a comeback mission for the yard having disappointed for the first time in her career when last seen in April.
"Vroum Vroum Mag is very versatile. A lot of the time we pigeonhole horses, but she's won over two miles and three miles over both hurdles and fences," said Mullins.
"She finished lame after Punchestown, which was why she disappointed there, but my mother rides her every morning and is very happy with her. She is not going to be a pushover, she's a solid Grade One mare and Faugheen will have to be somewhere near his best to beat her.
"There's Jezki, another Champion Hurdle winner, too - it's a very competitive race and it will be hugely exciting.
"Hopefully we can get him there and, more importantly, he will be all right on Monday morning so we can work on from there."
Jezki and Campeador both represent JP McManus for Jessica Harrington and Gordon Elliott respectively.
McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "Jezki had a lovely win last time, he hasn't been in as good a form as he is for a while. He seems to be well at the minute so it's all systems go.
"Campeador has been unlucky with the two falls. It was nice to see him win last time. It's obviously a big step up in grade for him but we'll have an idea where to go afterwards."
Joe Murphy's Swamp Fox completes the field.
Elsewhere on the card, Presenting Percy is the headline act in the Liam & Valerie Brennan Memorial Florida Pearl Novice Chase.
He won the Pertemps Final in March and was impressive on his chasing debut at Galway.
"You'd have to be very impressed with him the first day," said rider Davy Russell.
"But, I rode the second horse the next day and he disappointed.
"I'm sure Pat Kelly will have him right, he does a great job with him."
Gordon Elliott was expected to run Death Duty but he was not declared leaving the trainer to field Shattered Love and Jury Duty.
"She was entitled to win the last day, but didn't jump great. Hopefully she'll be better next time," Elliott told At The Races of Shattered Love.
