Impressive Hurricane lays down Champion Hurdle marker

By Pat Keane

Thursday, December 30, 2010

THE conclusion to be drawn - following yesterday’s paddypower.com IPhone December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown - is that whatever beats Hurricane Fly at Cheltenham will win the Champion Hurdle.

This was a breathtaking display by Willie Mullins’ star, who stepped up plenty on his seasonal debut success in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse.

Bookmaker reaction saw Hurricane Fly shorten with William Hill to 7-2 favourite, from 11-2, for the Champion Hurdle.

Boylesports go 3-1, from 4-1, while Stan James also have him as their 3-1 favourite. Ladbrokes, however, were unmoved and left Hurricane Fly at 4-1.

Luska Lad carried them along with Hurricane Fly doing half speed in second for Paul Townend. The winner’s old rival, Solwhit, well backed to beat him, was in behind, with Davy Russell clearly determined to play his cards late.

But Hurricane Fly is simply a class act and at the peak of his powers right now. Townend was content to follow Luska Lad into the straight, still refusing to show his hand.

Hurricane Fly joined issue over the last and then, without having to be asked any sort of question, exploded clear on the flat to score by two and a half lengths.

Solwhit was caught flat-footed and just didn’t have anything like the pace to go with the winner. He stayed on doggedly, but it was only in the final stride he actually managed to get by Luska Lad.

"Some of my horses have been running flat after Fairyhouse and I was a bit worried", revealed Mullins.

There was no cause for concern, though, because one couldn’t but be impressed by this display.

Continuing Mullins said: "The next aim is the Irish Champion Hurdle (Leopardstown).

"It wasn’t ideal coming here today, so quickly after Fairyhouse, it is something I don’t like doing. But he’s a horse who has had two injuries and I’m taking every race as it comes.

"I want to get as much experience into him as I can and we have always thought he was a Champion Hurdle contender."

Whither Solwhit now? He’s long been an admirable racehorse, but this proved conclusively that he is always likely to struggle against Hurricane Fly.

Trainer, Charles Byrnes, is not one for banging his head against a brick wall, so his next move might prove interesting!

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, December 30, 2010