Rocky up for a fight

First of all this morning let me reveal that I am definitely going to partner Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

The alternative was obviously Zarkandar for Paul Nicholls. That horse heads to the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton today and earlier this week Paul asked me which one of them I intended to ride at the festival.

He posed a straight question and I gave him a straight answer - Hurricane Fly. It is getting quite close to Cheltenham now and Paul needed certainty. As a result Daryl Jacob will be aboard Zarkandar this afternoon and that is perfectly understandable.