YOU’D forgive the racing public for treating this week’s news of Faugheen’s planned Morgiana Hurdle return with a little trepidation. We were briefed of a comeback before, at least a couple of times last season, but nothing materialised. It’s not to question the validity of the claim coming out of Closutton but to acknowledge Faugheen’s fragile physique, that has harshly only allowed him one go at a Champion Hurdle.

The now nine-year-old duly took his opportunity when given it and when we last saw him, in January 2016, he was at his very best in the Irish Champion Hurdle, trouncing stablemates Arctic Fire and Nichols Canyon, by 15 and 13 lengths respectively, which led the assessor to allot a rating of 176.