It never rains but it pours. That must be a saying which perpetually springs to Willie Mullins’ mind in recent months as the Closutton handler’s Cheltenham raid was dealt another significant blow after both Faugheen and Min were ruled out of next month’s Cheltenham Festival due to injury.
The duo had earlier missed intended engagements at Leopardstown last month but Mullins had hoped both horses would still run at Prestbury Park; Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle and Min in the Arkle.
However, in what has been a troubling time for Mullins and his staff at Closutton, injury has cruelly robbed owner Rich Ricci and National Hunt fans of seeing two superstars line up at the Festival.
Regarding Faugheen, Mullins commented:
Faugheen has suffered a stress fracture to his right hand ilium bone. He is definitely out of Cheltenham but I’m hoping he will be okay to return for Punchestown.
‘Faugheen the Machine’ has not been seen on a racecourse since his facile 15-length win in the Grade One BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January 2016. Despite this, the 2015 Champion Hurdle victor was as short as 6/4 favourite for this year’s contest.
The son of Germany’s recent mishap follows a litany of other injuries sustained by the nine-year-old gelding which included a suspensory ligament problem which ruled him out of last year’s Festival.
Faugheen’s injury woes were exacerbated by the revelation that Min, a seven-length second to Altior in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle would also not take up his intended engagement in the Arkle Chase.
Rich Ricci’s gelding has made a bright start to life over fences and was a comfortable winner of the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December, his second start over the larger obstacles.
Mullins remarked: “Min has been found to have a bone bruise to a cannon bone and he is definitely out of the Arkle. He needs some time off.”
Mullins is hoping that both stable stars will be fit for Punchestown in May with Fairyhouse in April also a possibility for Min.
Ireland’s Champion Jumps Trainer has had a trying time since the loss of around 60 horses owned by Gigginstown House Stud in August following a dispute over training fees with Apple’s Jade, Don Poli and Valsuer Lido notable losses for Mullins.
This was followed by the news that Vautour, last year’s Ryanair Chase winner had died following a paddock accident and Avant Tout, another unexposed chaser died following a fall at Fairyhouse.
However, things have failed to improve for Mullins with Annie Power, the reigning Champion Hurdle winner also ruled out of this year’s Cheltenham Festival through injury, whilst Limini and Killultagh Vic have also been on the injury list.
This latest setback has therefore opened the door for horses including Yorkhill and super-sub Vroum Vroum Mag to potentially fill the void left by the absence of Mullins’ injured stars.
Yorkhill, last year’s Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle winner has been campaigned over fences so far this term but may be rerouted to the Champion Hurdle which is looking increasingly open.
As for Vroum Vroum Mag, the mare was a gutsy winner at Doncaster last time and has options over hurdles and fences at the Festival.
Other stars Mullins will be looking to keep in cotton wool before the Festival include Champion Chase favourite Douvan, Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Djakadam and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Melon.
A trying few months for the Closutton handler remains unrelenting but after saddling eight winners at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, optimism remains high that without some of his most established stars, younger horses can come to the fore and stave off the threat posed by Elliott, Henderson and Nicholls et al.
Whatever happens, the Festival will be lacking top-class stars which is a disappointment for all National Hunt fans but who knows what unbound potential Mullins’ younger stars may possess.
Comments.
Loading comments…