One of jump racings all time superstars, Faugheen could be back for another season and potentially be running at the Cheltenham festival as a 13 year old.
It looks as though the Willie Mullins camp will be aiming big with the veteran jumper with the Gold Cup a dream target for the yard and he would make serious history if going on to win the event at his age.
He looked set for retirement after being pulled with a heart problem up at Aintree in April of last year, but Mullins gave him another season and he got back to his best when landing back to back Grade Ones over fences at Limerick and Leopardstown.
The son of Germany rounded off last season with a strong third in the Marsh Novices' Chase at the festival behind Samcro and stablemate Melon and Patrick has said that the stable star is fit and ready to go again.
Mullins said: “Faugheen is back in and 100 per cent. John Codd, who looks after him and rides him out, is absolutely over the moon with him.
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“If he shows that he’s still got all the enthusiasm and ability that he had last year, we’ll probably go again, and if he doesn’t, he doesn’t owe anyone anything.
“He won two Grade Ones last year and was placed in Cheltenham, and on another day he could have been closer.
“I look at his form rather than his age – and what he is showing us at home.”
Speaking about whether the Gold Cup was real option for the soon to be 13 year old, Mullins added: It’s a possibility, we’ll have to take it step by step.
“I don’t know where Willie is going to go with him for his first run. Hopefully there’s a few extra second-season novice chases this year and one of those could be an option.
“That (Gold Cup) would be the dream – it would be incredible, but he could be a Ryanair Chase horse and there are plenty of good prizes out of Cheltenham as well.
“At the moment all options are open. John Codd knows him better than anyone and would be able to tell us straight away if he thinks the fire has gone, but at the moment it’s still burning very brightly.”