Faugheen went from being Willie's number two to almost everybody's number one

It's funny the things you remember. On the way to Lingfield's Classic trials card I was listening to Radio 4's Saturday Live programme, in which the actor Joseph Marcell talked about his life on stage and screen, at one point briefly struggling to recall whether or not in the 1970s he had performed a particular role. As a racing journalist it can be a bit like that.

It's easy to forget which races you wrote about and which you did not. Some will always stick in the mind, the most memorable being those you describe with a sense of euphoria. Faugheen's first Cheltenham Festival success was not quite like that. It stayed in my head for another reason.

In those early days, Faugheen was the Flyingbolt to Vautour's Arkle. Both went to Cheltenham as favourites for Grade 1 novice hurdles and both won, yet there was no doubt which of the young stars Willie Mullins thought superior. If truth be told, I felt rather affronted on Faugheen's behalf.