IT is not often I beg, but this week I have a plea for Willie Mullins: Please, please turbo-charge the Machine.
Put Faugheen in headgear for the Champion Hurdle.
In peak form the ten-year-old is enough to send the heebie jeebies up any of his rivals in the Unibet-sponsored showpiece.
And a headgear-propelled Faugheen might just make long odds-on favourite Buveur d’Air wonder if it’s worth turning up for the gig at all!
Most people know by now that I have a soft spot for the horse.
I’m as sure as I could ever be that, but for injury, the racing world would already be talking about him as one of the all-time greats.
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There is still time — if he should land the Champion Hurdle a week on Tuesday. And headgear might well be the key.
The suggestion is that Faugheen just got bored in his last two starts, and that he needs something to motivate him in his old age.
Headgear, most likely in the shape of sheepskin cheekpieces, might be just what is needed.
I would be hugely surprised if Mullins — Ireland’s champion trainer because he leaves no stone unturned — does not at least work Faugheen in a pair at home.
Many say horses don’t come back. They claim that after injury Faugheen will never be the horse that powered to Neptune and Champion Hurdle success.
But, of course, there is one horse who did indeed return in style at Cheltenham, namely the super star that was Sprinter Sacre.
In 2016, Nicky Henderson’s hero landed the Champion Chase for a second time by seven lengths.
He had not raced in 2014 after an irregular heartbeat was detected. But, following two second-place finishes and a Festival disappointment in 2015, he won by 14 lengths at Cheltenham in November of that year.
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He then added the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton before his final Festival triumph the following March. Sprinter Sacre proved any horse can recover from a setback and turn back the clock. Headgear could help Faugheen repeat the feat.
So, Willie, be brave and cheekpiece-up Faugheen. Yes, turbo-charge the machine!
Speaking of Cheltenham, I was delighted last weekend when Our Duke beat Presenting Percy at Gowran Park. He’s a live each-way Cheltenham Gold Cup chance.
In this column I tipped up Native River and Our Duke for the Festival feature at double the odds they are both offered at now.
We have a real chance of collecting with either of Colin Tizzard’s or Jessica Harrington’s stars.
Our Duke is still not jumping as well as he can — but with a fluent round he’s got a huge chance of hitting the Gold Cup frame.
Respect for Hendo!
On the Cheltenham front, I’m convinced punters know much more about the big race contenders than many trainers!
Over the last few days Colin Tizzard has told us Cue Card is as good as ever, while Nigel Twiston-Davies has been in similar voice over The New One..
Both Cue Card and The New One are horses of the people, and I know how touchy some can get if you try and talk about them with any kind of reality!
I’m a fan of Cue Card and even more so of The New One, but in my humble opinion there is no chance in hell either will score at the Festival.
One man who has his feet well and truly on the ground is Henderson. When he was interviewed about Buveur d’Air this week, far from just saying he’s long odds on and should win, Hendo pointed out his hope had not had a proper race all season.
It was a point well made. Respect Hendo.
Noel Fehily has been booked for the ride with regular partner Robbie Power’ aboard stablemate Sizing John.
I would not read much into Power’s decision to ditch Our Duke. Few riders would hand over a reigning champion — imagine how Power would feel if Sizing John won again and he wasn’t on top.
But Native River and Our Duke are the two outright stayers in the Gold Cup field, and not for the first time stamina could be key in the extended 3m2f event.
I cannot see any form to indicate Might Bite is a strong Gold Cup favourite. That is unless you count a 63-length defeat of Black Corton in a two-runner race.
The RSA hero might prove the best for Nicky Henderson, but he’s got plenty to prove against horses who will be doing their best work when the three-mile marker emerges.
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