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I’m expecting to see Ruby on Crimewatch suitably decked out in mask and swagbag. That display today showed just how brazen he was in winning the Champion in March at half-throttle. Little his rivals could have done about it, I know, but he must have been p1ssing himself laughing as they walked back in that day.
Mullins has crossed the line from training champions to training freaks.
Faugheen was very very impressive AGAIN !!!
I can’t see anything beating him for a long time as long as Willie keeps him fit and happy.I think these horses have always been around, a trainer’s job is to bring out the best in them and not spoil them and Willie (plus modern day training methods) is a master of that art and science.
Network of lookers on the ground in France and Ireland plus breeders and sales. Not falling out with your bloodstock agent, (Nicholls has done this with Anthony Bromley). And the big one, is knowing what you are looking at and actually attending the sales yourself, which Willie Mullins does. Some trainers in England and (I have just mentioned one), think they are too big to be seen trotting up a youngster. Go to the sales yourselves and have a look, you can then answer your own questions.
I’m not sick of saying it yet, this horse is exceptional. At Limerick in 2013, on heavy ground over three miles, he showed himself to have an abundance of stamina. Lots Of Memories and Azorian, both useful opponents, tracked a very keen Faugheen that day and both ended up pulled up and tailed off respectively as a result of trying to go with him. For a horse to have that much stamina and also be the quickest hurdler around is phenomenal. The only time he has ever remotely looked like getting beaten was when blundering two out in the Neptune, and within three strides the thought that this equine phenom could be beaten was banished forevermore.
The frightening thing is that there is still room for improvement in his jumping. Jumping issues (and even though he makes mistakes he has never looked like falling) and the possibility of Willie leaving him woefully under cooked for an early season target remain the only hopes for the challengers, along with no hope and Bob Hope.
What is there to challenge him? Douvan will surely go chasing. The horses beaten this year have stepped up in trip while Arctic Fire looks best of the rest but was mauled at Punchestown. Peace And Co is probably the most interesting but it would be asking a lot of a five year old to beat Faugheen. The most interesting possibility (however slim it is) is that of Douvan remaining over hurdles and Faugheen going chasing. Mullins has a strong Gold Cup hand at the moment but there’s no horse in the yard more capable of ending his Gold Cup hoodoo than Faugheen for me.
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