Faugheen set to return to action in Morgiana Hurdle

After a 22-month absence from the track, Faugheen is finally set to return to action at Punchestown on Sunday.

Last seen landing the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January 2016, the nine-year-old heads the list of eight acceptors for the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle.

Trainer Willie Mullins said about the 2015 Champion Hurdle winner, unbeaten in all but one of his 13 starts: "We're happy with Faugheen He's been doing everything right at home and the plan is to run him on Sunday.

"He was lame and missed the Irish Champion Hurdle last season and wasn't ready in time to return in the Punchestown Hurdle.

"There was nothing else for him after that, but he's been ready to run for a while."

Yorkhill: remains entered in the Morgiana HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Several other stars from the Mullins yard remain among the entries. They include Yorkhill, the winner of the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, who has not run over hurdles for 18 months.

Also among the list is the Stayers' Hurdle victor Nichols Canyon, who made it back-to-back wins in the Morgiana last season, and Vroum Vroum Mag, who has recovered from a pelvic injury she suffered at Punchestown in April.

Although five-time Grade 1 winner Apple's Jade, who won the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday, is left in the race, she is unlikely to run.

Her trainer Gordon Elliott said on Tuesday: "The plan is to wait for the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 3."

Jezki: set to represent JP McManusCredit: Patrick McCann

JP McManus will be represented by Jezki, the 2014 Champion Hurdle winner, who scored his 13th win over hurdles when landing the Istabraq Hurdle at Tipperary last month, and Campeador who made a successful start to the season when scoring at Punchestown last month.

Also nominated for Sunday's race is the versatile Joe Murphy-trained Swamp Fox, who landed the Naas November Handicap on the Flat on the final day of the Irish season early this month.

The ground at Punchestown, where racing also takes place on Saturday, was soft, soft to heavy in places on Tuesday. The forecast is for mixed weather over the next few days.

Morgiana card