Faugheen pulled up as Mick Jazz wins the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown racecourse
Faugheen quickly dropped out of contention and was pulled up by jockey Paul Townend leaving Mick Jazz to take the Grade 1 contest
FAUGHEEN was pulled up in a dramatic renewal of the Ryanair Hurdle leaving Gordon Elliott to win yet another Grade 1 contest with Mick Jazz.
Mick Jazz stayed on well to beat Willie Mullins' Cilaos Emery up the run-in, but the race was overshadowed by Faugheen dropping out.
The Willie Mullins-trained superstar soon adopted his customary pacesetting role, but it was clear heading out onto the second circuit it might not be as straightforward as many expected, with his stablemate Cilaos Emery taking over the lead.
The nine-year-old dropped to the rear of the five-runner field on the run to the second-last flight and Paul Townend swiftly took him out of the race.
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1.50 Newbury - Diable De Sivola: 'Consistent and will love the heavy ground'
2.10 Haydock - Emperor's Choice: 'Mud and a slog is what he wants on a going day'
2.25 Newbury - Shotgun Paddy: 'Stays all day and has a good chance'
3.00 Newbury - Kilbricken Storm: 'The drop in trip is no problem and will be hard to beat'
3.15 Taunton - Maria's Benefit: 'Impressed at Sandown two runs ago and followed up at Ludlow'
2.45 Haydock - Wolf Sword: 'Goes in the ground and is gradually improving'
3.35 Newbury - Rocklander: 'Going to take a bit of stopping'
His shock exit left Cilaos Emery in front ahead of the Gordon Elliott-trained Mick Jazz (14-1) and it was the latter who found most from the final flight to claim a surprise victory under Davy Russell.
Russell said: "I was expecting a big run from Mick Jazz because he ran such a lovely race in Fairyhouse (fifth in Hatton's Grace Hurdle) when he didn't stay after I travelled well into the straight.
"I couldn't believe Paul (Townend) just wasn't travelling with the same zest down the back and then this lad jumped on the bridle.
"He had to be tough to pass Cilaos Emery but, to be fair, he landed at the back of the last and he just wanted it a bit more.
"He's a tough horse."
Elliott said: "Obviously Faugheen looked to be a certainty, but there is no such thing as a certainty in horseracing. I just hope he's OK.
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"It was Mick Jazz's day. We went to Cheltenham last year and George Mahoney, who owns a half share with me, flew over from America with all his family for the County Hurdle and he was lame on the morning of the race.
"Today was his day in the sun. The plan was to go to America next year for all those jump races, but we'll enjoy today and see what happens.
"He'll have to have an entry now in the Champion Hurdle because you never know, but we'll enjoy today first."
Faugheen's owner, Rich Ricci, said: "Paul said he pulled him up because he just wasn't firing.
"He seems to be sound. When he cools down maybe we'll find out something.
"He's in the horse ambulance going back to the yard, but he's not distressed or anything. Paul just pulled him up because he wasn't going anywhere.
"When Cilaos Emery went by him, normally he would have picked up the bit and cracked on, but he just didn't. I knew we were toast then.
"Some of Willie's horses have been in and out all week. Hopefully it's something that shows itself and we have a horse we can get ready for Cheltenham and fight another day with.
"There doesn't appear to be any injury, so that's something anyway, but it's very disappointing."