It has not been a good week for Willie Mullins.
Yesterday, the racing world was in shock as Nichols Canyon fell and was fatally injured at the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
With the shock of that loss still fresh, Mullins put out his great Faugheen today in the Ryanair Hurdle today, hoping to continue his successful comeback from injury.
The 2015 Champion Hurdle winner, had lost only one race before today, ironically to Nichols Canyon, and had made his long awaited comeback with an impressive win in Punchestown last month on his first start in nearly two years.
Unfortunately, the comeback did not continue in the way punters or Mullins would have hoped for today, with jockey Paul Townend pulling the horse up before the second last fence having fallen completely out of the running.
Faugheen dismounted and being walked back by Paul Townend... pic.twitter.com/6prCxDAwkA
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 29, 2017
The somewhat good news for Faugheen fans is that initial reports would suggest there didn't appear to be an obvious injury setback with the horse, at least according his owner Rich Ricci
Ricci: “He’s not distressed or anything, Paul pulled him up because he wasn’t going anywhere. I just don’t know, hopefully we have a horse to come back and have another day with. There doesn’t appear to be any injury.” #Faugheen
— Greg Wood (@Greg_Wood_) December 29, 2017
It was a massive blow to punters who had backed Faugheen to an incredible 2/11 starting price for the race, which looked to be a foregone conclusion.
Very very sad to see Faugheen there. What is going on with the Mullins horses.
— Shane Langan (@shanelangan90) December 29, 2017
Desperate to see Faugheen run like that and be pulled up. Sadly ‘the machine’ is clearly no longer ‘the machine’. What has happened to the Mullins yard this season?!
— Jack Teague (@JackWTeague) December 29, 2017
Faugheen pulled up but I'm not convinced it's the last we'll see of that horse, if it turns.up at Cheltenham I'll back it.
— Tom Dixon (@kingshrimper) December 29, 2017
