3 minute read
Faugheen brought the house down at Leopardstown as he rolled back the years with a thrilling victory in the Flogas Novice Chase.
The Willie Mullins-trained 12-year-old added a second Grade One over fences to his multiple tally over hurdles - much to the delight of a big crowd at the Dublin Track.
Sticking to the rail throughout, Faugheen had to fend off the persistent challenge of his stablemate Easy Game to come out on top under Paul Townend.
Battleoverdoyen set off in front, but Faugheen was never too far away, with the pair separated by the width of the track.
The former looked beaten when coming down at the final fence after being headed two out, and while Faugheen (13-8 joint-favourite) had gone on at that point, he still had to finish the job - which he did in determined fashion, keeping on gallantly to score by half a length.
What. A. Horse. Faugheen:
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 2, 2020
1 2 years-old
25 races
17 wins
11 G1 victories
Unbeaten over fences
The horse of a lifetime
Fabulous Faugheen wins the G1 Flogas Novice Chase for @WillieMullinsNH & @PTownend, bringing the house down at @LeopardstownRC! pic.twitter.com/ug6qTQtIRj
Mullins said: "I was absolutely delighted. I've had lots of winners before, but this was special, I think. They said it was special when he won down in Limerick at Christmas, but I wasn't there.
"This is fantastic here."
He went on: "It was a proper Grade One test, the way he battled. Paul was good on him and he got the jumps when he wanted to get them.
"I thought our other horse was going to beat him coming up the stands rail, which is probably better ground, but he dug deep.
"Last year he had little problems, but he came back and it's fantastic the three runs he's put together now.
"To come back at his age and do it on the number one stage here, at the biggest festival - to me that's fantastic."
