Supasundae upsets Faugheen in Champion Hurdle

Jessica Harrington’s decision to run Supasundae in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle as a prep run before the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham proved truly inspired as the gelding landed the Grade 1 prize.

All eyes were on Faugheen after his bitterly disappointing effort when pulled up here at Christmas but the 9/10 favourite was unable to withstand the challenge of Supasundae, backed on track from 16/1 into half those odds, on the run-in.

Faugheen set the pace under Paul Townend but Robbie Power kept close tabs aboard Supasundae who stayed on well in the closing stages to prevail by two and a quarter lengths. Mick Jazz was a further four and three quarter lengths away in third, with Jezki in fourth.

Supasundae wins the Irish Champion Hurdle! @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/QG7ntwiGVr

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 3, 2018

Harrington said, “I thought it would be a bit too quick for him over two miles. I only came here as a prep run for the three-mile hurdle at Cheltenham, and to win this is some prep run!

“Robert was sure that when he had Faugheen in his sights at the last that he would stay every inch of the way, and he did. When he got to the front he was only pricking his ears.

“He’s only in the three-mile hurdle at Cheltenham so that’s where he will be going. He won over 2m5f there last year, and we ran here to try and get him jumping quick. We know he stays so that’s why we are going for the three-mile race.

“He jumped absolutely super today, and I’ve never seen him jump so well.

“He’s a much better horse on better ground and that’s why he comes into his own in the spring. He doesn’t like slogging around on heavy ground.

“He is by Galileo so there must be a little turn of foot in there somewhere. It’s really sad that neither Alan or Ann (Potts) are here to see the horse fulfilling his potential.”

Power said, "We were looking for a race for him before Cheltenham, his plan is the Stayers Hurdle, and we had a conversation at home in the office and decided to come here.

"We thought it might sharpen him up a little bit as he is quite lazy and hopefully it has worked because he has never jumped as well in his life. He was so slick and was actually getting upsides Faugheen at every hurdle and was fantastic.

"He has been in fantastic form of late and will definitely go for the Stayers Hurdle - he's by Galileo and the drier the ground the better (at Cheltenham)."

Willie Mullins said of Faugheen, “I was disappointed with him. He’s sort of half back on track but he’ll have to improve a lot to be back where he was.”

Paddy Power cut Supasundae into 7/2 (from 6/1) for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Faugheen was pushed out to 6/1 (from 11/4) for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Buveur d'Air is now 2/5 favourite (from 4/6) for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.