Willie Mullins confident Faugheen will return ‘as good as new’ next season

Willie Mullins expects Faugheen to return “as good as new” next season following the shock news he will not defend his title in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old was a brilliant winner of the showpiece event on the opening day of last year’s Festival and while he suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of stable companion Nichols Canyon on his seasonal reappearance in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, he bounced back with a second win in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle.

That was followed by a scintillating performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.