Hurricane up against it in Champion Hurdle
The romantic in me says Hurricane will win, but the realist says we are going to be up against it.
Hurricane Fly has won 19 Grade 1’s and is simply a very special horse. But he is now a ten-year-old and we can be certain isn’t going to get any better.
He does, however, remain a top hurdler and you can obviously argue is a better horse at Punchestown and Leopardstown than he has ever been at Cheltenham, even if he did win two Champion Hurdles there.
Anyway, form is form and the facts are that, on Cheltenham running over six weeks ago, Hurricane Fly has to find five lengths with Jezki.
Perhaps, I rode Hurricane Fly too prominently then, I suppose that is a possibility.
The tactics today are going to be quite fascinating.
I have little idea as to how this is going to develop. Will Steps To Freedom bowl along in front, for instance? If he does then, I’d imagine, Tony McCoy will follow on Jezki and I will sit third.
Maybe, Tony will crawl at the start and I might crawl with him! One thing is certain, it will be a case of poker faces as we go out to ride. I’ll be more than surprised should Tony tell me what he is going to do. Take it as read, I won’t be revealing anything to Tony.
I’m looking forward to the challenge, of course, and we’ll be making it up as we go along. I will, hopefully, react quickly to whatever is happening, so just sit back and enjoy.
My day begins on Balnaslow, in what has the appearances of a fiercely competitive looking handicap chase.
He’s in good order, having run crackers in both the Thyestes Chase at Gowran and the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Balnaslow then went and won at Tramore.
Looking at Gowran and Cheltenham, I think dropping back to two miles and five will suit the horse. He is a good jumper, has a nice weight and should at least run a big race.
I can’t wait to throw my leg over Vautour again, after his superb display when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, in the Champion Novice Hurdle.
I rode him work at Willie’s on Wednesday morning and was more than happy with him. Vautour didn’t do a whole lot, admittedly, but gave me a great feel.
He is a terrific galloper and jumper and will love two and a half miles around this track.
Look, I believe he is a hell of a horse. I’m well aware this is a good race, a very good race, but Vautour will take some whacking.
I end my stint aboard Arctic Fire in a novice hurdle and am confident he will do the business as well.
Arctic Fire qualifies because he has only ever won once over flights and it represents a decent opportunity.
He can be very keen and so wears a hood again. Good ground is a plus for him and his form is pretty solid.
Arctic Fire ran a cracker in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, when second to Lac Fontana, and a rating of 147 entitles him to win now.
Willie Mullins runs three in the mares’ bumper and I’ll be surprised if Patrick Mullins isn’t on the right one.
He teams up with the newcomer, Morning Run, who is by the now deceased sire, King’s Theatre.
She comes from a family that is well known in the Mullins yard and, like her relations, likes to get on with things.
On what I have seen of her she has a lot of ability, will surely race on the pace and take beating.
I was delighted with Boston Bob on Wednesday. I just loved the way he quickened from the back of two out and again after the last.
It made all of the hard work to get back more than worthwhile, I really would have hated to be watching that on television.
The best word I can use to describe Faugheen on Tuesday is spectacular. I know we mustn’t get too carried away with winning a novice hurdle at this time of the year, but you’d have to say he was mighty impressive all of the same.
