Christmas Hurdle next for Faugheen

Willie Mullins has pinpointed the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on December 26 as the next likely engagement for Champion Hurdle favourite, Faugheen.

A Cheltenham festival winner last March in the Neptune Investments’ Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles, the Rich Ricci-owned ex-point-to-pointer burst into the two-mile picture with a scintillating performance at Punchestown the following month.

The six-year-old confirmed his status with a bloodless win on his reappearance in Ascot just over three weeks ago.