This is "pound for pound" the best National Hunt horse on the planet in its category - I am expecting this horse to be rated the best 2M Hurdler of the last decade  by the end of this season.

fast champion hurdle..loses ground at it's hurdles oops

some people on this thread seem to have been following the sport for of of 2 seasons hyperbole at its best.

I agree that he can't do that in a Champion Hurdle, not denying that. However, that 2 mile race in Ireland showed just how much a decent pace improves his jumping and that pace will be even quicker in the Champion that, in my opinion, will be an advantage. No one can deny his jumping improved that day. He's in the right hands for the next 6 months and with the exception of injury, he will make many punters richer for a 2nd year in a row! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If only I had £1 for every time I heard/read people doubting this horse due to the way he jumps a hurdle - I hope the outcome is the same in 6 months time!

Totally agree Howdi and admittedly I was one of those who didn't give him the credit he was due at the time. On the plus side, thanks to Jezki, My Tent has received its last penny from me. Still very interested to see where UDS will end up next season!

Don't get me wrong paterson. I'm not in any way dismissing the horses chances. I very much liked the way he put the Neptune race to bed and the Punchestown result was very much expected by me because I didn't think the drop to 2 miles would inconvenience him. My personal view at this stage is that Faugheen and Jezki are the two I wouldn't want to be taking on. So I rate the horse very highly and think he is the one who could be anything but as yet until he races against the best we really can't say for sure. But I like him a lot.

Rumour has it that MTOY is going chasing as first preference.

Faugheen rated 161 now , same mark as Jezki at the end of his Novice Hurdling season, by the way.

And with regard to MTOY - massive fan of the horse. Left me devastated on more than one occasion - most notably the defeat to Champagne Fever in the Supreme and the defeat to Jezki in March. But would definitely like to see him over a fence - could be exactly what is required to settle him as nothing else appears to work. Would love to see him win a Champion but unfortunately can't see it happening now.

Haha I know that feeling. I have the magic of making a horse go off a short priced favourite but fall early on - Briar Hill.

Ignore that. That was RPR.

Thats why I said ignore what I said. I read his RPR instead of his OR.

Faugheen as I can see is 158. Where did you read 161 ?

faugheen is 161 i'll send you the full excel list if you want via email, if this would be handy let me know, ive sent it to 3-4 people on here over the summer. Howdi

stayers why not champion?

Always interested to see other people's opinions! Puzzle as always (Willie probably doesn't know for certain himself) but my thinking is the following 3 are being targeted ...

Arkle - Vautour (Champagne Fever route)
Champion - Faugheen (has the engine for it - jumping the concern)
Mares Hurdle - Annie Power (now a Grade 1 and no Quevega)

No idea where Un De Sceaux will end up, thought initially another French campaign but having 2nd thoughts. If not, Arkle or Champion likely to be the aim. Pont Alexandre to make a return (not even going to try and guess). Briar Hill I always just assumed would go chasing but I'm thinking World Hurdle could be a possibility. Djakadam maybe Gold Cup? Shaneshill maybe Supreme? Then of course Willie has the Gigginstown pair Tell Us More and Alez Columbierres who may be worth keeping an eye on ...

Well said sir.

I would dispute that he made a 'right horlicks' of the flights. He made errors and was less than fluent, as are many novices at times or even seasoned hurdlers.
Jezki is not the best jumper of a hurdle you will ever see, neither is The New One & Punjabi fell before winning his. Just some examples off the top of my head.

Is there room for improvement in Faugheens jumping?  Of Course
Does he have the room to make that improvement? Given the normal progression from novice to more experienced hurdler, I think he does.

Will he make that improvement?  Million dollar question

Neither Jezki or The New One are always the cleanest of hurdlers but they perfectly illustrate the point. Jezki didn't jump four out that well but it didn't matter too much because they hadn't started to race at that stage. The key point is that either by luck or good jockeyship as they began to really race going to three out Geraghty saw a stride and Jezki flew it and jumped two out quickly taking him into the lead and for a few strides after he sat quiet allowing the horse to fill his lungs for the finish. The New One was close enough going to three out but he jumped that one a little clumsily and did so again at two out and they had flown away. Punjabi was generally a good jumper and did jump well when he won. Of course horses can and do come to grief.

Where I disagree is your characterisation of Faugheen's mistakes especially at three out. Two out he was more clumsy and in a champion that would have cost him a length or so. Three out he hit halfway up and flattened it. Champion hurdlers don't tend to do that at that stage because the taps are really turned on. Such a mistake would have cost him two or three lengths at the top level and momentum. Racing so much quicker at that stage could even see him on the floor making that mistake in a champion.

Of course not only could he improve (although he does spend more time than ideal in the air even jumping well) but he just could have one of those rounds like Jezki where he makes his mistake when it doesn't matter and he jumps the hurdles where speed is of the essence really well.

In the interests of fairness and collective knowledge I'll throw another potential scenario into the equation touched on by some of his greatest advocates. Perhaps this horse just is that little bit special and if he plays to his strength of galloping at a high cruising speed as he did in arguably his two best performances is it not conceivable that he could do a Hardy Eustace from the front and control the race to suit himself? In these circumstances a mistake or two if he's up in the van become less problematic for his chances than if he's sat three or four off the lead and trying to make ground as they run to three out.

From memory with the exception of Sublimity and Hurricane in 2011, in the last decade the winners have either been at the front or near to it or if they couldn't get near the front they were working hard to maintain whatever position they could get (Brave Inca and Hurricane in 2013).

Can't recall a horse in recent times who has caused such debate, can't help but think Willie Mullins put everyone away, when he said Faugheen was better, while he mopped up the 14-1 on the Champion (in March, after the festival).