NEWS broke on Wednesday afternoon that Faugheen is out for the season after suffering a leg injury at trainer Willie Mullins's base.

The eight-year-old was a brilliant winner of the showpiece event on the opening day of last year's Cheltenham Festival and, while he suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of stable companion Nichols Canyon on his seasonal reappearance in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, he bounced back with a second win in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle.

That was followed by a scintillating performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

He was odds-on across the board to strike gold once more at Prestbury Park next month, but will have to watch on from the sidelines after suffering a suspensory ligament injury, with Mullins deciding to draw stumps for the campaign.

Mullins said: "It's a small injury, but just bad timing, a bit like Hurricane Fly was when he missed Cheltenham.

"The prognosis is very good, but I don't think we are going to have him back for Punchestown. We will just call it quits for this season and hopefully come back as good as new next season."

Ruby Walsh has ridden Faugheen in 11 races, including at Cheltenham last year, and looked visibly shaken by the news of his enforced absence, moments after riding stablemate Annie Power to victory at Punchestown.

He said: "It's disappointing. It's like someone whipping the ace out of the pack and handing you the rest of the cards.

"Willie won't be committing horses to anything until he has too. And why should he? The best-laid plans come to nothing in this game in the blink of an eye. Faugheen and Killultagh Vic are proof of that.

"The inevitable question will now switch to who I'll ride in the Champion Hurdle. A bit like my like my Gold Cup mount, I won't be committing to that until I have to.

"Annie Power could be supplemented for the Champion Hurdle, but at this stage the handicapper has Arctic Fire as the most likely winner now that Faugheen is out. And he was second in the race last year.

"But Nichols Canyon did beat Faugheen at Punchestown earlier in the season and was probably feeling the effects of his win against Identity Thief at Christmas when he was under par last time in the Irish Champion Hurdle, but nobody would have beaten Faugheen that day."

Nigel Twiston-Davies is "sad" Faugheen has been ruled out of the race, but admits the title-holder's absence in the Festival's opening day showpiece does help the cause of his runner, The New One.

The Naunton trainer was looking forward to having another crack at Willie Mullins' performer with his stable star, who was an unlucky third to Jezki in 2014.

The New One has twice been beaten by Faugheen. Fifth in the Champion last year, he was seven lengths adrift in second place behind the Irish raider in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, before winning at Haydock last month in his last public appearance before next month's Festival.

"It's bad for them and I'm sad he's not in the race as we hoped we'd serve it up to him," said Twiston-Davies.

"We weren't frightened of having a go, but it makes our life a bit easier."

Twiston-Davies reports The New One to be in rude health with the big race now just under four weeks away.

"Everything's going superbly," he said.

"I've never had him better. We've got to keep touching wood because obviously things can go wrong, as we've seen with Faugheen."

A couple of local trainers got off the mark for the new year over the last few days.

Jedd O'Keefe was first up, saddling a rare bumper runner at Catterick on Monday, and Sam Spinner didn't let him down, making a winning debut.

The Middleham trainer said: "I thought Sam Spinner would be too backward and dopey to win first time, but he is a horse I like. I'll give him one, maybe two, more runs and then put him away. I haven't schooled him yet, but I think he will do well in that sphere."

Also on the mark was Ann Duffield, thanks to Toboggan's Gift last Sunday at Southwell.

The filly was ridden by Jimmy Quinn, who said: "Toboggan's Gift ran well last time out – one just came out of the woodwork to do me – and she stayed on well today."