Willie Mullins confirms terrible news about Faugheen and his Cheltenham hopes

Cheltenham is just around the corner but there is devastating news coming out of Carlow this afternoon.

Willie Mullins has confirmed that Faugheen will not defend the Champion Hurdle title he won in 2015. https://twitter.com/WillieMullinsNH/status/699952230187798533 Injury will rule the classy mount out of action at Prestbury Park next month with the initial diagnosis understood to be a leg injury. The horse was set to be a key part of any punter’s betting slip next month, and his absence will see a reordering of the favourites for one of the highlights of the National Hunt season. https://twitter.com/Ladbrokes/status/699949464316936193 There has been a huge outpouring of shock this afternoon at the news. https://twitter.com/skysportsAlexH/status/699950282797686785 https://twitter.com/barrydempsey2/status/699948753978007552 https://twitter.com/Sam__Preen/status/699948615226302465 https://twitter.com/aftertimeansell/status/699949095025274882 The news came just moments after Annie Power had won her comeback race at Punchestown. Ruby Walsh looked genuinely shocked when spoken to by At the Races when he described the news as "it's like someone ripping the ace out of the pack and handing you the rest of the cards, that's what it is." https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/699953821443751936