Mouchoir carries Irish hopes in Champion

Petit Mouchoir carries Irish hopes of yet another victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

With Annie Power and Faugheen both absent, the main hope of a fifth successive victory for the Emerald Isle is pinned on Henry De Bromhead's charge, who followed up Ryanair Hurdle success at Leopardstown with victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle on the same track.

De Bromhead said: "He's won his last two, both at Leopardstown. He's one of the few horses in it to win two Grade Ones this year.

"He's done nothing wrong, bar falling at Newcastle. It was disappointing that day, but he seemed to be going well and he confirmed at Leopardstown at Christmas what we hoped he might do at Newcastle.

"He then went and won the Irish Champion Hurdle, so he's had a great season already. Now we'll try and have a go at Cheltenham.

"I'd never be overly confident, but he's in good form and I'm hoping for a good run.

"We've been really fortunate this year. We've got some really nice horses and we're just very lucky to be in the position we're in."

Although Willie Mullins is without his stars of previous years, the Closutton handler still has two darts to fire in the form of Footpad and Wicklow Brave.

His son and assistant, Patrick, said: "Footpad is a five-year-old and as everyone knows they don't have a great record in the Champion Hurdle, but his run behind Petit Mouchoir at Leopardstown was very good and if he'd have jumped the last he might even have got there.

"He ran well in the Triumph last year, so we know he handles the track.

"Wicklow Brave won the County Hurdle. He's a bit mercurial - he can have going days and off days - but he's working well at home and hopefully they can get a bit of prize-money."