Faugheen world hurdle

I read that too. The horse if at his best or near it could beat anything over 2m 2m4f or 3m. So double figure odds for World Hurdle is worth a few quid on the basis its either a NR or 2/1 or less on the day.

What have I missed gents?

So we could see one of the potentially highest rated CH winners ever running in the WH? And reason being that a mare has never won the CH twice? Go take a long summer holiday RR, then talk to your trainer, and come back to us in September with a sane plan. Gob****.

nafc

might as well have a crack at fences than go to the WH

I think they'll both be kept at 2m until the New Year at least. One will come over for the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle, and the other will stay in Ireland for the Morgiana and Irish Champion.

Wait and see how they both run in then, see if Faugheen is properly back, and then sort plans.

If they win all four between them, it'll be an absolute crime to split them up for March.

Not even July and the first RR/WM outcry has happened!!!

RR & co had become so predictable, in a bad way. When will this man learn a bit of humility and do whats best for the sport? this isn't flat world where the cash incentive to protect horses reputation is somewhat understandable due to tens/hundred of millions pounds at play. This is jumps where reputations need to clash to create memorable events and what makes Jumps a more entertaining and lovable sport.

If either is to go chasing, they would surely have to do so next season and from their first run.
Mullins did say after the Champion hurdle that he quite fancied the prospect of doing a Dawn Run with the mare.
Whether RR wants to is another matter, but a nibble at huge odds on her might not be madness.

I cannot see Annie Power doing a Dawn Run and being aimed for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next season - she's just too fragile to be embarking over fences at this late stage.

RR has hinted Vroum Vroum Mag will stick to fences next season but he didn't say she'd go for the Gold Cup. But I'm hoping she'll be as she's ideally suited than either Annie Power or Faugheen eg an experienced and prolific jumper over fences, stays 24f, etc. Maybe that's why Paddies only offering 16/1.

owners wont let annie over fences complete non starter,

think faugheen hould start off 2m 5F novie chases then go for the pillar then see where you are

nothing to lose and everything to gain

Well vautour or djackadam wont be winning GC, so either Annie, Faugheen or Douvan will need to step up, pocket talking hopefully Douvan up in trip, and one of the other two novice chasing if they take to it who knows. Perhaps they see Douvan as out and out 2miler and one of the other 2 over 20f novice chasing.

Vautour, Djakadam, Annie Power, Faugheen, Douvan and Vroum Vroum Mag are in the same ownership ie RR, and these are my take for them next season.

Annie Power will again be campaigned for the Champion Hurdle (no fences) along with Faugheen but only one will contest the event - the other as a fall back just in case - with the latter in the RSA or JLT; Douvan's natural progression from the Arkle is the Champion Chase and that's where he'll be heading, I think; Vautour's main target will again be the King George and the Ryanair (no Gold Cup); Djakadam will try again for the 3rd time in the Gold Cup in the absence of Don Cossack (unlikely to compete) along with Vroum Vroum Mag and Killutagh Vic (different ownership).

I find it highly unlikely Annie Power or Faugheen will be near a fence. If both make it to the festival in good health I think it's inevitable one goes Champion Hurdle and the other goes World Hurdle.

Loads of 2m races to keep em apart in till chelt, i see no reason why he would nt run both in the CH even though he doesnt like doing it

There is absolutely no chance Annie Power will do battle with Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham given the same ownership and trainer ie RR and WPM - the latter prevented Annie Power and/or Faugheen running against Hurricane Fly (different ownership) hence no chance of it happening next year unless WPM has had a sport/punter friendly by-pass prior to the Cheltenham Festival 2017.

its a bit silly to say no chance at this point, its the correct race for both of them at this stage.

Faugheen (and RR) were thwarted by WPM to run him against Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. How could one even envisage running both Annie Power and Faugheen (both in the same ownership/trainer) in the Champion Hurdle? Absolutely no chance in my opinion, unless one is unavailable at the last minute similar to this year eg the injury to Faugheen.

These people do not have the sport in general at heart instead self interests always come first to them before anything else, sad but unfortunately true.

The stewards at Sandown Park were correct with their decision and reason for fining WPM for his late withdrawal (9mins prior to race) of Vroum Vroum Mag. The Sandown stewards' report described WPM's behaviour as "showing a wilful disregard for the interests of racegoers and punters, and this was upheld by the British Horseracing Authority.

impossible

Faugheen beat Hurrican Fly in the 2015 CH in his first year out of novice ranks. Maybe I have misunderstood your posts though

@Sawyer I think what @impossible said is what many of us think. Back to your post, HF wasn't owned by RR and I describe above what he fails to understand. But Mullins was the one to keep Faugheen away from the Irish CH in 2015 and RR said he understood he's part of a team and needs to make concessions. In the precedent year Annie Power was also forced into Stayers instead of taking her chance in the CH.

They're both at blame for not doing what's best for the horses/sport/fans and only trying to serve their egoistic feelings and pockets, this will be their biggest test and like I predicted way back Faugheen is bound to go WH, the lesser race from all 4 main championship events with the best horse he's ever had. At least Faugheen fans can hope he comes back in good order and will eventually win any race he's sent for at Cheltenham, but from a spectacle POV it would be great if he goes for GC or CH.

i should imagine some journalist has caught RR after to many glasses of bubbly at Royal Ascot with the stayers faugheen quote, the ptp I saw him win was a downhill finish, one man wouldve got the trip. the novice hurdle over 3 miles they dawdled and he beat horses he had stones in hand over, he has far to much speed for a stayers hurdle a massive risk IMO, the main aim for him should be to make him the best 2 mile hurdler of all time, Annie didnt quite stay 2 years ago, it would unfair ask of her again, if both horses won there 2 mile preps easily they would have to take each other on, they have paul to ride want ruby doesnt.  Only way they could justify shifting annie to the mares as a reigning champion hurdler if she had an interupted prep and its best for her to go for an easier race, that providing VVM has another agenda.

We shall see

Faugheen is a 3 mile point to point winner and has won a novice hurdle in heavy ground over 3 miles. That's a ridiculous statement above, sorry but I'm just not having that at all. He can only beat what's put in front of him. He won a PTP over 3 miles, won a novice hurdle over 3 miles, won a maiden hurdle over 2m6f and of course won the Neptune over 2m5f (admittedly in recent years the Neptune has proved a stepping stone to the following years Champion Hurdle). But based on that evidence, I fail to see how sending him up in trip would be a "massive risk". Especially as he will be turning 9 not long after next years festival.

The Fly hadn't ran a yard over 2 miles in 5 years when he finished 2 lengths behind Jezki over 3 miles at Punchestown. Jezki of course a previous Champion Hurdle winner.

Annie Power did stay the World Hurdle trip, she was simply outstayed by an exceptional horse on the day. She then of course went on to win a Champion Hurdle.

The fact is, you have to stay to win a Champion Hurdle. It's also a fact that there's more evidence to suggest Faugheen would stay than there is against him.

Between Annie Power and Faugheen who'd win the Champion Hurdle? For me Faugheen any day, if sound, and not given a 'race' on the home gallop prior like WPM did prior to the Morgiana.

Agreed  Paterson92,

I love Faugheen, from his May romp on ATR in a bumper, and got big prices for the Neptune win, and the Champion Hurdle win, and both festival were a profit form those bets alone.

I would love to see him back in the groove over 2M and aimed at the Champion, he is potentially a great repeat Champion in waiting.

However, he also has the ability (like only great champions can) to win at long and short trips, and has proved able to stay well when asked to.

I took 10/1 for the World Hurdle post RR's comments that the World Hurdle is possible. I saw it as a fair risk, given the owners words, at the odds.

There is not definite plan for him, yet, so both options are open and he thrives at Prestbury Park so we know, if fit, that he is going to run there.

Annie would leave Faugheen in the next parish in any race and she would not need a half a stone mares allowance to do it she would do it at level weights so willie would have to protect Faugheen and not dilute his value.

That's your opinion brassneck and a very bold one at that. People have knocked Faugheen time and time again and no doubt will continue to do so. The last time we had the pleasure of seeing such a great horse on the track, he put up an absolutely breathtaking display - his best to date. To suggest Annie is by far the better of the two is inaccurate in my opinion.

What are you talking about brassneck, not dilute his value? He's been gelded lol

I'd like to think he meant something along the lines of "protect the horses reputation" but didn't look that way haha!

In my eyes Faugheen is still the stable number 1 over 2m and therefore the best around over 2m. It all depends on how his injury has effected him.

I have absolutely no idea how Willie will juggle his team this year. It makea antepost this year near impossible.

Hopefully we might get an update soon over who'll stay hurdling and who'll go over fences. He has the likes of Faugheen, Annie, VVM, Apples Jade, Arctic Fire, Min, Yorkhill etc over 2m hurdles and novice chasing. Unreal!

The wait is nearly over...watched my first flat race of the year the other day....not for me.

Forgot all about Arctic fire well chief, blimey what an embarrassment of riches!!!
Not long now and the guessing games begin....... I've already got those lot pencilled in for their targets, here goes

Champion hurdle: Annie, Arctic fire and apples jade
World hurdle: faugheen
Mares: vroum vroum
Arkle: min
JLT: yorkhill

Noticed that 3 bookies have lengthened Faugheen a little for the Champion Hurdle today and shortened him for the World Hurdle.

Can't see Vroum Vroum Mag staying over hurdles this year. I think she will be chasing and maybe even aimed at the Gold Cup now that Djakadam has failed twice and Vautour will probably take the Ryanair penalty kick.

Surely Faugheen will stay at 2m if fully fit and if either is to step up to the Stayers, it will be Annie Power? I remember all this bookie talk a few years ago with Hurricane Fly apparently going to be stepped up. I bet they will happily lay Faugheen for the World Hurdle until the money's coming out of their ears! As usual, it will all come down to trying to win as many races as possible and what Ruby wants to ride in each race.

At this stage, if VVM goes chasing and Annie goes for a championship race, Limini for the Mares has to be the bet at around 10-1. If she is Ruby's ride in this, she will go off odds on. Apples Jade would be a major contender but will almost certainly take the Champion Hurdle route as she's a Gigginstown horse.

VVM unfortunately I think could become ricci's substitute ready to step in if one gets injured, difficult to know what they will do with her but I rate her higher then limini and with jers girl potentially in opposition for the mares it won't be no gimme, and as you say delsie "it will all come down to winning as many races as possible"
The bookmakers must love taking bets on VVM she could feasibly end up in any of the mares, world, Ryanair or gold cup!!!