Mullins keen to run Champion pair

Willie Mullins admits he is running out of time to get a run into Faugheen before the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

A brilliant winner of the two-mile Championship in 2015, Faugheen was denied the opportunity to defend his Champion Hurdle crown last season because of a suspensory problem.

Despite being entered in a number of races this season, the nine-year-old has not been seen since winning the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle 12 months ago.

Annie Power went on to win the Champion Hurdle in Faugheen's absence last season but like her stable companion she has not run this season.

While the mare has a couple of options open to her, Mullins admits this year's Irish Champion represents the 'last chance' to get a run into Faugheen before the Cheltenham Festival.

"I want to get them out as soon as I can," Mullins told the Daily Mirror.

"Annie Power has two options - she also has the race at Punchestown that she won last year - before going to Cheltenham.

"But it would be Faugheen's last chance before Cheltenham. They are both well - both are riding out and doing plenty."

The Rich Ricci-owned pair are among ten entries for the January 29 feature.

Mullins is responsible for seven of the possible entries with Clondaw Warrior, Diakali, Ivan Grozny, Nichols Canyon and Footpad also entered.

Henry de Bromhead's Petit Mouchoir was an impressive winner of the Ryanair Hurdle last month and he could bid for another Grade One prize along with the Gordon Elliott-trained Apple's Jade and Triumph Hurdle hero Ivanovich Gorbatov from Joseph O'Brien's yard.

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