Hurricane Fly impressive at Leopardstown

Hurricane Fly won the Irish Champion Hurdle | Photo: Skysports

Hurricane Fly impressively won the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle, thrashing four rivals on his much-delayed seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown on Sunday. 

The Willie Mullins-trained 4-5 favorite recorded back to back victories in the Grade One and looked as good as ever in winning.

Thousand Stars did his best to fight off his stable companion in the straight, but Hurricane Fly went by him and pulled clear after the final flight to win by six-and-a-half lengths. Oscars Well rallied to finish second and deny Mullins a one-two, with Unaccompanied finishing fourth, a place behind Thousand Stars.

After an encouraging display, Hurricane Fly will now be preserved ahead of the defence of his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham in March.

Mullins said: “He completely surprised me. It must be as good a performance as he’s ever produced. They went a right good gallop. Ruby said he wasn’t travelling in the ground early on, but when he gave him a squeeze three out he came alive. I was a bit anxious about the ground and I was a bit anxious because he was very quiet beforehand, but maybe he’s just maturing.”

“Normally it takes a couple of lads to lead him round the paddock because he can get a bit tight. We had been a bit worried before Cheltenham last year how he would handle everything, including the parade, but he went round like an old handicapper today.”

“I was a little concerned he would flop as my first two runners disappointed. I was surprised how fit he appeared. We’ll keep a lid on him between now and Cheltenham.”

Hurricane Fly is now best priced evens for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival online betting odds in March.