Faugheen seeking Nichols Canyon revenge Faugheen gets the chance to prove his shock defeat at the hands of Nichols Canyon was no more than a blip when the stable companions lock horns once more in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. Faugheen looked set to dominate the two-mile division for years to come after signing off last season with brilliant victories in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the corresponding race at Punchestown, but Nichols Canyon, a multiple Grade One-winning novice last term, had not read the script. Faugheen had apparently dominated his stablemate in his final workout before his Morgiana Hurdle comeback, but roles were reversed on the track as Nichols Canyon won the day to leave odds-on backers counting the cost. Both horses have won since, with Faugheen successfully defending his crown in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle, while Nichols Canyon was his usual workmanlike self in landing the Ryanair Hurdle over the Irish Champion Hurdle course and distance. Faugheen is widely anticipated to exact his revenge this weekend, but champion trainer Willie Mullins is not sure what to expect. He said: "Everything seems to be good (with Faugheen). "Last year we didn't run him between Kempton and Cheltenham. This year we're taking a different approach and we'll see what happens. "Nichols Canyon was a good Flat horse and he's improving over hurdles. He's taken Faugheen's scalp once and there's nothing in his homework to suggest he's gone backwards since that, so we'll see what happens." The champion trainer also has a third string to his bow in the form of Arctic Fire. He was runner-up to former Mullins great Hurricane Fly in last season's renewal and went on to chase home Faugheen at both Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring. The seven-year-old finally clinched a deserved top-level triumph in November's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, but returns to Leopardstown with something to prove after a disappointing showing on his first start over three miles over the Festive period. "He had a lung infection after his run at Christmas. He wouldn't have won at two miles," said Mullins. "That's my only worry about him - he's coming back from a little bit of a setback - but he appears fine at the moment. "He needs a run more than the other two. I could bring the other two to Cheltenham without a run, but I think Arctic Fire needs it. "He was second in Cheltenham last year. When he gets his game right, he's going to be very competitive in a Champion Hurdle." The master of Closutton is unsurprisingly keen for one of his formidable trio to follow in the hoofprints of Hurricane Fly, who won this prestigious prize a record five times before his retirement. He said: "It's not a stepping-stone in Ireland - it's our Champion Hurdle and I treat it that way. Our best horses are running in it and there won't be any hanging about on Sunday, I'd say.
