Morgiana option for Mullins aces

The Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown and the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse are among the early-season options under consideration for star hurdlers Faugheen and Annie Power.

Faugheen suffered his only defeat in 13 starts to date in the Morgiana Hurdle last November, but after bouncing back with victories in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, he was set to return to Cheltenham as a warm order to successfully defend his Champion Hurdle crown before injury ruled him him out for the rest of the season.

In Faugheen’s absence, the brilliant mare Annie Power was supplemented for the two-mile showpiece at Prestbury Park and produced a fantastic front-running display to break her Festival duck.

She rounded off her campaign with a similarly scintillating display in the Aintree Hurdle.

Both horses are now back in work with champion trainer Willie Mullins and his son and assistant, Patrick, reports the duo to be in rude health.

“Faugheen is back in and we don’t think his injury will come back against him. We’ve had horses with that kind of small suspensory problem before and it’s not a long-term thing. John Codd, who looks after him, is very happy,” said Mullins.

“I would imagine that he will be going down that two/two-and-a-half-mile hurdle route. He can go out in trip to two-and-a-half and I suppose you’d be looking at the Hatton’s Grace and Morgiana for the likes of him and Annie Power. They can …

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