Willie Mullins’s big names dominate Champion Hurdle betting market

Reigning title-holder Faugheen heads Willie Mullins’s stranglehold on the Champion Hurdle betting market but no decision has yet been taken on whether the star novice Douvan will aim to take on his illustrious stable companion next March.

Only Nicky Henderson’s Triumph Hurdle winner Peace And Co disrupts a Mullins monopoly at the top of the Champion Hurdle betting, with Douvan currently a 10-1 third favourite despite a switch to fences having been widely touted for the Rich Ricci-owned star.

Mullins also has Arctic Fire and Nichols Canyon towards the top of a market which is dominated by Faugheen, best priced at just 5-4, who also carries the Ricci colours.

“We haven’t discussed anything yet. There will be a ‘pow-wow’ one of these days and we will see what will happen,” Mullins said.

“I don’t really know which way Rich is thinking, but we will get round the table at some stage and go through them all.”

Star names

National Hunt racing’s star names are also set to start returning to action through the coming weeks.

“They have all done well over the summer. I just want the weather to break before we start upping them to really fast work,” Mullins said.

“Douvan has put on a bit of condition. He was always very rakish-looking. Faugheen has tremendous condition. He had nice condition last year, but he is stronger again this year.”

Out of action

In other jumping news, veteran jockey Paul Carberry looks likely to be out of action for at least four months after breaking his leg in a fall at Listowel on Saturday.

The 41-year-old was riding Rich Coast for his boss Noel Meade in the Beginners Chase when they came down at the first fence.

Carberry underwent surgery in Tralee later that evening and is set to be transferred to hospital in Dublin later today.

“The surgery went very well, so the plan is to transfer him to Dublin under the care of Mr Paddy Kenny. They’ve done a great job on him,” said Dr Adrian McGoldrick, the Turf Club’s senior medical officer. “He will be out for a minimum of four months.”

Robbie Power fell from Gambling Girl in the same Listowel race and will be out of action for at least three weeks after injuring his back.

“He had a nasty fall in the same race and has a fractured spinous of his T1 vertebrae and will be out three to four weeks,” McGoldrick said.