.....Faugheen .....

I'll play wonky, and throw you a crumb.... 27 of the last 31 Champion Hurdle winners ran in the previous 51 days. So, imo, HE NEEDS TO RUN. Maybe someone pointed this out to Willie? If he doesn't have another run, you are taking a huge risk backing him at evens.

The red mills i believe w/r, A positive move by Willie, the horse hasn,t had a decent race this season ;a most likely wont have one here  either;but should be fitter for the run.

Won't run in Gowran! Would get more of a workout on the gallops at home! Will win the champion on the bridle imo. Not a bit impressed with TNO or Jezki.

However, despite producing a string of powerful performances as a novice last season and again this season, Faugheen may still be lacking in experience Mullins feels and the trainer has left open the option of running in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trials Hurdle at Gowran on February 14.
"We're looking at the Red Mills for Faugheen," Mullins said on At The Races. "I think there's one other contest left in England but we'll just keep all our options open. The horse is in good form.

"We'll probably have a chat with Ruby [Walsh] in the next day or so to see if he needs more experience, but at the moment I'm very happy with him."

Faugheen is the general evens favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, March 10 - the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Good to have posters address the subject with reasoned views ...

They will hardly run him id say......last year they ran a horse in this race.....that never came off the bridle.....and Willie told us afterwards that the run took so much out of him....that he was forced to miss Cheltenham......
They will hardly make the same mistake twice......

bigwilly, would you not say that jezki is a spring horse and will be a lot better @festival?

Tony no doubt he is a better horse in spring but he has had 3 hard races this season already.  On top of that he has a liability as a jockey riding him in Cheltenham this year as opposed to last year when he had a top jockey.  Also the fact the fly is still beating him would be a big worry to me.  He doesn't look like he has improved at all.  I don't expect the fly to beat him in March on better ground but cant see any reason why he can beat Faugheen.  Wont have a bet myself bar place laying the Fly for as much as i can!
Faugheen wont come off the bridle IMO.  Different class

fair point bigwilly, if faugheen is the real deal then he won't win again I agree.

Some on this thread may remember Keen Leader put Faugheen up as one to watch out for even before he ran under rules[must have contacts in W.M. STABLE] Anyway little did K.L.know that Faugheen would be an EVENS fav for the C/H less then 2years later,  is he a even money shot? i think not, he hasn,t beaten any of the top horses in the betting, sure he could be as good as Istabraq ..but would you put a E100 on to win a e100 ? I hope all the top horses stay sound so we can find out.

I honestly thought there would have been more comment from the racing lads on this ...

Well Robbie Mac sure thinks Faugheen is a certainty on that Final Furlong podcast - Blake and the other fellow put up TNO and Jezki and he told them he never heard such rubbish .

Don't think whether he runs at Gowran (it will only be a school round) will make any material difference to his chances at Cheltenham.

Would an average run in Gowran give them an excuse NOT to go to Cheltenham ?

I think Mullins now judges himself by Champion Hurdles and Gold Cups, barring injury there is no way they wouldn't send him even if he stunk out Gowran. I actually don't think he will run at Gowran anyway as Willie has said he was hard to keep weight on. If he were to run, I'd assume that is behind him. Whatever happens Willie won't be running him up light.

Didn't know that Neill , My impression of him was he was a big well boned horse , hard to imaging him losing that much weight ..

Willie said it if I remember correctly, workrider. Said they didn't know where the improvement was coming from last year and was part of the reason they sent him to Ascot "fat".

I was standing 5ft from him at the last Punchestown  festival W/R and that whats Faugheen is ; big well boned horse, i like to see him run in the  red mills. i think its money on he will run.

thought Faugheen was a light framed horse and there wasn't much of him??

I CAN SEE THIS POST GETTING ME LOT stick  BUT IMO FAUGHEEN NOT ONLY WONT WIN CHELT   I THINK HE WILL BE LUCKY PLACE  HE HAS BEAT VERY LITTLE AN WON LOT  LOT  WEAK RACES

LAST YR WON PI$$POOR NEPTUNE  AND IMO XMAS HURDLE WAS SAME IF THIS HORSE WAS NOT MULLINS/RUBY BE  AT LEAST 5 /7 TIMES PRICE

CHAMP HURDLE WILL BE RUN AT BREAKNECK PACE AND I JUST THINK NOT ONLY JETSKI /THE NEW ONE /THE FLY ALL PROVEN OVER COURSE AND DISTANCE
HAVE  FAR  SUPERIOR FORM AND CHANCES 

ALL ABOUT OPINIONS THATS MINE RIGHT OR WRONG BUT WILLING TO POST  AN TIME WILL TELL .

NORN,

Give Arctic Fire any chance at all atall ?

DEFF AS NO DOUBT NO BIGGER EYECATCHER OR IMPROVER OR OTHERS WILL SAY HIS CLOSENESS  TOO  HF /JETSKI ARE OVER THEHILL WHICH I THINK IS BULL$HIT

NOT FOR LAYING BUT DOES ANY ELSE THINK HE BE EVENS IF WASNT WITH MULLINS? I WONT BE SHOCKED SEE RUBY RIDE THE FLY

CR WHY CRAZY ?   YOU THINK HE HAS BETTER FORM THAN TWO PREVIOUS CH WINNERS ? 

I JUST TAKING STANCE WHAT IVE SEEN AND FEEL FREE PULL ME AFTER THE RACE 

NEPTUNE NONE OF THE NEXT FOUR HOME HAS WON IT WAS OVER 2 5 JUST THINK AT 2MILE IN BY FAR BEST FIELD AND OPPONENTS HE WILL BE FOUND WANTING

JUST HAVE ALSO GUT FEELING RUBY WONT DITCH THE FLY

NO DOUBT COULD BE machine BUT IMO HE AINT PROVED IT FOR ME UNTIL HE WINS  CH AT CHELT .

WHO YOU FANCY ?

remember istabraq won the neptune norn..for some reason its a good pointer to future ch winners

as did hardy!!

YES KAVVIE  JUST GOING ON EVERYTHING IVE SEEN AND LETS DISECT HIS HURDLE WINS IN IRE HE HAS BEAT CHASERS   = THE JOB IS RIGHT /CHUTE HALL/EMPIRE OF DIRT  = THEY HARDLY IN TOP 300 HURDLERS

YES HIS PUNCH WIN WAS BY FAR HIS BEST BUT SECOND IS ALSO  GOOD CHASER VALSEUR LIDO

NEPTUNE PLACED HORSES    BALLYALTON/RATHVINDEN/KILLALA QUAY /TWELVE ROSES  = PI$$ POOR WEAK RACE  AND YES ILL AGREE CAN ONLY BEAT WHATS IN RACE 

IMO JETSKI/TNO/THE FLY ARE ALL QUICKER BETTER HORSES WITH PROVEN FORM IN GRADE ONES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY COURSE FORM AS SOME DIFFERENCE WHEN THEY GOT FULL LICK IN CHAMPION HURDLE 

BUT AS IVE SAY IVE PUT UP MY VALID REASONS WHY I THINK HE IS UNPROVEN AND SILLY PRICES @EVENS  AND HE SHOCKS ME AND WINS I DO EXPECT THE COPY NPASTING OF MY predictions TO  POP UP

TOBY/KAV BOTH GREAT HURDLERS WON 5 CH BETWEEN THEM  BUT IM SURE YOU BOTH HAVE HAD STRONG  OPINIONS ON SOME HORSES ?

ILL DEFF BE FIRST TO HOLD HANDS UP AND SAY IF HE DOES  WIN

BUT SERIOUSLY SOMEBODY ANSWER ME WHAT PRICE WOULD HE BE IF WITH SMALLISH  TRAINOR AND NOT OWNED BY RICCI? = 5/1+ I THINK

BUT AINT HAD DRINK IN 14 WEEKS SO MAYBE HAD TO MUCH TIME STUDYING

i agree re price norn , he is way way too short.

i simply dont know to be honest...visually he looks v good.but as you say he beat a very weak neptune field last yr.its a pity sign of victory didnt run today?..jezki is still a puzzle.is he really a "spring" horse,who will come alive in march  or did he simply win an average ch last year? the fly under performed in it.or did he?is that as good as he will get around chelt?the new one seems to have regressed? im thinking and getting a feeling an unconsidered outsider will come and blitz them all,like for auction or beech road did in the past  which one tho?!?!...?

Hard to know hoe good he is and he is not backable at current prices although many will disagree.

Last year's race was rubbish in my opinion. The winner could not beat Champagne Fever and My Tent or Yours (who could not frank the form at Ayr) was bang there despite pulling for most of the race. The New One nearly won despite being hampered by the fall of Our Conor and he has yet to convince that he is something other than a very nice horse.

If Faugheen is as good as he promises to be, then he will win in a common canter, but I won't pay to find out.

I dont see Faugheen down as a entry for the Red Mills at Gowran, seems a few of us get it wrong, looks like he be going straight to Cheltenham.

WILLIE MULLINS has confirmed that Faugheen, favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, will go straight to Cheltenham without another run.



Unbeaten in eight, Faugheen did not feature among the eight entries for the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday, a race Mullins had mentioned as a possible target for the exciting seven-year-old.
Speaking on Tuesday lunchtime, Mullins, who has entered Abbyssial and Analifet, said: "Faugheen is fine but we discussed things over the past few days and we've decided that he doesn't need another race before Cheltenham."

The Edward O'Grady-trained Kitten Rock, winner of his last three races, and Gordon Elliott's 2014 JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll, are among the eight entries for Saturday's race.

Mullins also has the classy Champagne Fever engaged in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.

I told ye he wouldnt be running in Gowran!  As if it was ever being seriously considered

Will win the CH in a hack canter!

He may well be a very good horse but he has never beaten anything of Grade 1 standard and he still has it all to prove. He is a dodgy hurdler and has never gone a real hard gallop over 2 miles in a Grade 1. On all known form, the Champion Hurdle is between The New One and Jezki and the 6/4 dutched is a lot better value than the evens on offer for Faugheen.

Dodgy hurdler?  very good jumper.  The faster the pace the better he jumps!
Wont back him myself but he is taking on an ordinary bunch imo and should win.

Yes, very dodgy hurdler. On a line through Bertimont/Purple Bay, he has a bit to find with The New One. I think 6/4 about Jezki and The New One is far better value.

Totally unexposed at 2M.  Wouldnt be one bit worried about the new one or Jezki for that matter.  He cant beat the Fly ffs and he has a walking stick!

Have too agree with the Gotchee regarding Faugheen's technique over a hurdle.....nowhere near slick enough for a

Champion hurdler...anything he does meet right he tends to jump which is not ideal.....he won't get away with many

mistakes at champion hurdle pace and he hasn't beaten anything the likes of TNO or Jezki wouldn't slaughter.

Thought last years race was well above average personally and nothing that has happened since except the absence of

MTOY suggests this year is any different.

Obviously has an incredible engine but is a stupid price.

6/1 jezki n/r n/b with PP IS A FAIR BET E/WAY BET ,HARD TO SEE HIM OUT OF THE 1ST 3.

I also have doubts about faugheens jumping..but if the engine is as good as they say it is..it may not matter as long as he stays on his feet?

Never jumped as well as at Kempton the last day. Suggests the pace of the CH will improve his jumping. I cant see him beat. Though agree he will be bigger on the day. English will pile into TNO, e.w thieves will see Jezki as a bet to nothing, and on course layers will have taken nothing on Faugheen at bigger prices so will be keen to take him on at current prices.

I think he,ll be 6/4 -7/4 on the day

CHELT BISMARK

JETSKI WINS

TNE SECOND

HF THIRD

EASY GAME

Gobshee.....Hes beaten three grade 1 winners by half the track already.....he is already a dual 2m grade 1 winner over hurdles....give up talking nonsense please.....

Paulie no offence but 3 grade one winners? i can only find one

irving valseur lido and the liquidator

Apologies goretski....forgot about lac fontana.....

bumper and a novice chase winner. Irvine is not Grade 1 standard. Wingnuts, we are talking about the Champion Hurdle. Where is the head in hands man when you need him?

Hes never beaten a horse of Grade 1 standard.....well theres four Grade 1 winners he beat....
Hes never won flat out over 2m.....what about punchestown ya ghoul ya.....

Name the Grade 1 winning Hurdlers he has beaten outside novice company?
How many of those Grade 1 winners you mentioned will line up for the Champion Hurdle?
I'd say it will probably be equivalent to the same number as your IQ.

Get into bed ya fool ya.....

I knew you wouldn't be able to answer that.

I couldnt be bothered.....he has only ran outside novice company twice you moron.....

It's way past your bedtime and you are overtired.

A bit like UDS, sometimes a horse might not have beaten grade 1 horses, but beats grade 2 horses in such a manner that sets him apart and marks himself out as a grade 1 horse. Such is Mullins dominance, when he gets a Grade 1 horse, he can protect him till Cheltenham should he choose.