Faugheen Out Of Punchestown Festival

Faugheen has been forced to withdraw from next week’s Punchestown Festival, trainer Willie Mullins has confirmed. The County Carlow-based handler was hoping the Rich Ricci-owned 11-year-old, who has won 14 of his 22 career starts to date, would successfully defend the Stayers Hurdle crown he won 12 months ago.

However, Mullins has opted to take Faugheen out of the running on the back of the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner being winless in four outings this season and pulling up on his last appearance at Aintree. He tweeted: “Unfortunately we withdrew #Faugheen from @punchestownrace this morning and he will now go on an early summer break.”