Hurricane Fly features among just six remaining entries for Sunday’s BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

WHEN I interviewed Nicky Henderson at his festival media day last month he admitted the six weeks before the meeting were difficult, taxing ones, for a trainer.

HURRICANE FLY, currently a top-priced 5-1 second favourite behind Binocular for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, can give his Cheltenham prospects a major boost by landing the BHP Insurances sponsored Irish equivalent at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Further proof that punters are split over the merit of Kauto Star’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup chances emerged today, with William Hill now making him the same price not to complete the course as he is to win the race.

Hurricane Stan knocked down trees, ripped roofs off homes and washed out bridges in south-eastern Mexico – but the storms it helped spawn proved far more destructive, killing more than 65 people in Central America.