Rich Ricci: Faugheen just seems to be able to do it

Owner Rich Ricci believes Faugheen represents his best chance of winning one of the championship events at the Cheltenham Festival ahead of his bid for glory in today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Unbeaten in eight career starts, the seven-year-old will attempt to follow in the hoofprints of Istabraq and Hardy Eustace, both of whom won what is now the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle before clinching gold in the two-mile hurdling championship.

While respectful of the opposition, Ricci is confident Willie Mullins’ hot favourite has what it takes to emerge triumphant.