Faugheen justifies banker tag

Faugheen gave Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh another Cheltenham Festival winner with an impressive success in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

The six-year-old maintained his 100 per cent record as he swept to the front after three out and pulled clear of the opposition.

Faugheen, the 6-4 favourite, passed the post four and a half lengths in front of Ballyalton, with the winner's stablemate Rathvinden half a length away in third.

Walsh said: "He had a look at the second-last and I upped the revs. Willie said all along that there was a lot under the bonnet and he was right. He's a smashing horse."

Mullins said: "I think he wants fences. He has a disregard for hurdles, he just wants to go. Fences might make him respect things more. I think he blew the third-last and then I thought he might come off the bridle, but he didn't. Ruby let him get back on an even keel and I thought he had every chance then.

"We weren't sure which race to go for as we had a good one for the two-mile race and a good one for the three-mile, so he just slotted in here really. I would imagine he's a chaser. He wants fences to maybe make him drop the bridle and travel. I think a big fence would make him show a bit more respect and come back on his hocks more."

Asked to compare Faugheen with his Supreme victor Vautour, Mullins added: "Vautour is a different level."

Winning owner Rich Ricci said: "He's beautiful, he jumped very well. He's been a very difficult horse to keep right, Willie and the whole team have done a magical job to keep him right. He's great for the future."

Ian Williams believes runner-up Ballyalton will be even more proficient when he is sent chasing.

The trainer said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. He was clearly beaten by a very good horse. You could draw a line through his last run at Cheltenham, and he's had a nice break since then. He's a chaser, not a hurdler, and we'll just have to decide whether to go over fences at the end of this campaign or after he's had a summer break."

Mullins said of third-placed Rathvinden: "He ran well but missed the break and was never in a position to challenge. Paul (Townend, jockey) just said he didn't think he was at home on the quicker ground."