Cheltenham Festival 2019: Penhill and Faugheen lead strong challenge for Willie Mullins in Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle
Mullins is pleased with his top-class pair ahead of the £325,000 Grade 1
PENHILL is on course to defend his crown in the Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle.
Willie Mullins' top stayer will line up alongside his brilliant stablemate Faugheen in the £325,000 contest.
Penhill, 6-1 second favourite for the Stayers' at Cheltenham, has been off the track since April.
He won at the Festival on his reappearance last season, so the lack of a run this term is no concern to the Irish champion trainer.
Mullins said: "He's fine. He went away yesterday and is coming along nicely.
"I hope we can get him there. Every morning you're looking at him to make sure that he's all right.
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"He's going to have a few more searching bits of work between now and Cheltenham.
"To me, he was never going to have a run before Cheltenham this season.
"I spoke to the connections, and decided that's what we'd do.
"You'd rather get runs into them - but what's the point in running in Punchestown or Leopardstown and finding out you can't get him to Cheltenham?
"Last year it wasn't the plan - it's just the way it worked out. This year, it seemed the obvious thing to do."
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Faugheen, 8-1 for the Stayers', beat Penhill in the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown when the pair last met.
But the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner has not been seen since suffering a heavy fall in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December.
Mullins said: "He goes for the Stayers' Hurdle and is in good form.
"Ruby (Walsh) hadn't stirred on him the last day. What would have happened I don't know, but Ruby was confident he hadn't asked him any questions at that stage.
"I was just waiting for Ruby to pull the lever, and obviously it never happened.
"When the fall happened I thought that might be it - and he was very sore for a few days afterwards.
"It would be nice to do it. I hope he just stays sound and has a trouble-free run and gets there. It's a track he likes."