Faugheen could step up in trip Faugheen could potentially be stepped up in trip in order to avoid clashing with reigning Champion Hurdle heroine and stablemate Annie Power. Connections of the 2014 Champion Hurdle winner are considering the idea of campaigning the Willie Mullins-trained gelding over three miles come the autumn. The eight-year-old was unable to defend his crown at this year's Cheltenham Festival after suffering a suspensory ligament injury in the build-up to the race. Owner Rich Ricci said: "If (his injury) had happened around Christmas time, we probably could have made Cheltenham, but unfortunately it happened in the Irish Champion Hurdle. "He is in great form and will be back this season. We will just have to figure out where he and Annie Power run. "I'm of two minds. No mare has ever won the Champion Hurdle twice, and Faugheen deserves his chance to defend his crown as well. "They could both obviously stay a trip and do three miles as well, depending if Thistlecrack goes chasing or not. Who knows, they have both got to get there first, but they are in good order. "He (Faugheen) won over three miles at Limerick as a novice. It is interesting. It is such a long way from here to there and I will probably get murdered for saying something that changes my mind later on, but you have to consider it."
