Willie Mullins has revealed both Annie Power and Faugheen have suffered setbacks and are out of the Stan James Morgiana Hurdle.
The champion trainer had hoped the duo would both run in Sunday’s big race at Punchestown but they were not among the final declarations.
Mullins has explained why the two most recent Champion Hurdle winners will not be taking part, saying he currently has concerns over both horses.
Mullins told The Irish Field: “Annie Power worked badly during the week and will be checked out over the weekend. Faugheen has a foot bruise.”
Annie Power missed the first half of last season through injury and is clearly still not 100 per cent, while Faugheen will miss the race more as a precaution.
However, Mullins still has three of the five runners in Sunday’s race, with last year’s winner Nichols Canyon, Sempre Medici and Simenon all involved.
Jer’s Girl and Ivanovich Gorbatov, both in the colours of f J.P. McManus, are the other two runners.
