The amazing FAUGHEEN wins the 2014 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham

Описание: Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh kick off day two of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival with success for the incomporable Faugheen.

The unbeaten gelding raced prominently and, despite flattening the third-last, he had all his rivals in trouble as they turned for home.

“Gosh, that was magic wasn’t it?” said winning owner Rich Ricci afterwards. “He was just brilliant. His jumping was always going to be a bit of a concern and I thought his mistake three out could have cost him.

“I don’t always watch them jumping the last and I didn’t again here. Maybe I should start watching them though as he was amazing at the last. Willie is just magic, isn’t he?”

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Faugheen on the build up to the Grade One contest, however, as the star hurdler suffered various setbacks. Ricci explained: “He’s been a very hard horse to keep right but Willie and Ruby have done a fantastic job with him. He’s not the biggest and he’s had a lot of niggles throughout the season. Most of his health issues have been with his back.”

Faugheen went on to win the Champion Hurdle 12 months later and again remained unbeaten that season. He then made racing history later in his career when bagging a Grade One novice chase as a 12-year-old.

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