Veteran Faugheen can upstage young guns

On a card that offers little cause for optimism at Cheltenham this afternoon, Faugheen is fancied to turn back the clock and land the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle. A year ago, he contested the Champion Hurdle and performed so badly as to raise major concerns about his future.

Starting the 4-1 second favourite, behind eventual winner, Buveur D’Air, he produced a lifeless display to trail in a well-beaten sixth of nine finishers. On the back of that effort, it was difficult to envisage Faugheen ever playing a leading role again, at least at the top level, and it would have been no great surprise had his retirement been announced.