Faugheen looks an outstanding prospect and can maintain his unbeaten record in the Stan James Champion Hurdle (3.20), highlight of a terrific opening day at the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins, his trainer, has an extraordinarily strong team and Faugheen rates the pick of them. He made his debut in a point-to-point, winning easily, and then beat the classy Josses Hill by 22 lengths on his only start in a bumper.
Faugheen has not put a foot wrong since switching to hurdles, winning all seven races, including a novice success at this meeting 12 months ago.
That victory came over a half-mile farther, but two of his subsequent three starts have come back at this distance and he has coped without any problem.
His latest success, over a sharp two miles at Kempton Park, was really impressive and Faugheen just looks to be on a different level.
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The closest any rival has got to him was when Blue Fashion chased him home at a distance of three and three quarter lengths at Ascot, but even that margin could have been extended had Ruby Walsh so desired.
It is no surprise that Walsh has chosen to partner Faugheen rather than dual champion Hurricane Fly and his judgment is highly likely to be vindicated.
Jezki, last year’s winner, has to be respected. He has finished behind Hurricane Fly on his past three starts, but they have all been on much softer ground in Ireland and the drying conditions here are likely to see him bounce back to his best.
However, he only held off My Tent Or Yours by a neck 12 months ago and the chances are that he will need to step up on that to retain his crown.
The New One was hampered before flying up the hill to finish third last year and has won all five subsequent starts. He did not impress everyone at Haydock Park last time, but that was a muddling race on heavy ground and he rates the main threat.
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Mullins saddles another warm favourite in Douvan in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30). This French import has looked good on heavy ground but conditions will be completely different here and preference is for Qewy.
Useful on the Flat, he was pitched straight into grade two company on his debut over jumps, finishing a respectable third to Aso on heavy ground at Haydock Park.
He looked a different proposition on a faster surface at Newbury last time, readily beating the useful Cardinal Walter by six lengths.
That form is working out well and Qewy looks a good bet at 14-1 with Coral to provide John Ferguson, his trainer, with a first Festival success.
Un De Sceaux, another Mullins inmate, is odds-on to provide the Irish handler with a first win in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy (2.05) but there are enough doubts to want to take him on at 4-6 and preference is for Josses Hill.
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The latter has not always impressed with his jumping since being sent over fences, but his problems have generally been when not racing at full tilt and he appears to be much more fluent when the tempo picks up.
The front-running Un De Sceaux will ensure that this race is run at a flat-out gallop from the outset and that will suit Josses Hill, who ran a cracker when second to Vautour in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this card a year ago.
Many horses that made the frame in the Supreme, without winning, have gone on to great things in recent years, their number including Sprinter Sacre, Best Mate, Binocular, Jezki, War Of Attrition and Kicking King.
Josses Hill has always looked the type to make a better chaser and, under conditions that should suit, he can provide his trainer, Nicky Henderson with a sixth win in this grade one contest.
Un De Sceaux has looked extremely good on heavy ground in Ireland, but he has never been to Cheltenham and this will be the fastest ground that he has raced on.
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He can get overly excited at the start of his races, too, which is a worry given the noise levels at the Festival, although he was fitted with earplugs when winning at Leopardstown last time and that should help his cause.
If Ruby Walsh can settle him early on and get him into a good jumping rhythm, Un De Sceaux could easily turn this into a procession, but Top Gamble also likes to lead and should ensure that the favourite is not allowed too easy a time up front.
Henderson could also break Mullins’s stranglehold on the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (4.00) through Polly Peachum. This progressive mare has an excellent record when the ground is good to soft or faster, her only defeat in her past five starts under such conditions coming when a short-head second to the classy Southfield Theatre at Sandown last April.
Polly Peachum thrashed last year’s Mares’ Hurdle third L’Unique in a handicap at this track 11 months ago and, provided she is none the worse for a mishap on more testing ground at Kempton last time, when she was pulled up after all but falling at the last, she rates excellent each-way value at 10-1 with Coral.
Mullins has saddled Quevega to win the past six renewals of this race and, like that great mare, Annie Power has been kept under wraps for this race. She suffered her only defeat when runner-up to More Of That in the World Hurdle last season and holds obvious form claims, but Polly Peachum is still improving and can spring a surprise.
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Barrakilla seems sure to relish a step up in trip and is fancied to land the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase (2.40). He has progressed well this season and caught the eye at this track last time when a staying-on second to Niceonefrankie. Both his breeding and style of racing suggest that he will relish the extra half-mile of this contest.
It is a similar story with Doing Fine in the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase (4.40). His dam showed her best form over four miles and Doing Fine looks to be in a similar mould, as he was doing his best work at the finish when a neck second to Cogry at Warwick last time. The extra six furlongs of this race will suit and, with blinkers fitted for the first time to sharpen him up, he can spring a surprise.
Killala Quay rates the best bet of the day in the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase (5.15).
He finished a highly creditable fourth to Faugheen in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle and has improved as he has gained experience in three starts over fences this term.
Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, Killala Quay has the ability to outclass this field and rates good value at the 16-1 offered by William Hill.