Age just a number to Faugheen as veteran chaser bids to follow up Limerick win

Faugheen has been confirmed as an intended runner for Sunday's Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Graham Dench takes a look at previous 12-year-old novice chasers in top-level company . . .

Faugheen will not be the first 12-year-old of modern times to race in a Grade 1 novice chase when he runs in Sunday's Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown, but trends fans looking for encouragement from his two predecessors can forget it.

Whereas the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner will go into Sunday's race with a very realistic chance, having already won a Grade 1 novice at Limerick just days before his official 12th birthday, Amrullah and Premiership were complete no-hopers.

Watch: Faugheen brings the house down with Limerick Grade 1 win

Amrullah, a 200-1 chance when pulled up behind Bradbury Star in the 1992 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown, was a serial loser who enjoyed a cult following similar to that bestowed upon Quixall Crossett a few years later.

Unlike Quixall Crossett, however, he was not devoid of ability, and having started his racing life showing promise on the Flat for Guy Harwood he seemed simply disinclined to exert himself when he moved on to John Bridger for a long career over jumps.

Amrullah raced against some of the best of his era, including Barnbrook Again, Remittance Man and Young Snugfit, and he picked up plenty of place money, but in 74 starts he never once had his head in front when it mattered, although he did once come dangerously close.

Premiership was a multiple winner over hurdles in France, but he was one of many horses Fergus Wilson and his family were bringing over at that time to race in top company when out of their depth.

He was a 400-1 chance when pulled up in the Arkle won so impressively by Tidal Bay in 2008, but to his credit, and to the credit also of trainer Michael Scudamore, he went on to win a handicap chase at Plumpton just 12 days later.

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