Fly finally makes it to Cheltenham

Hurricane Fly bids to lay a ghost to rest after finally making an elusive first trip to Cheltenham to contest today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

The French import has always been held in the highest regard by Irish champion Willie Mullins, but injury has scuppered his participation at the last two Festivals and it seemed he would never line up at the spiritual home of National Hunt racing.

This season, however, has seemingly gone entirely to plan, with the seven-year-old completing a hat-trick of victories over Solwhit in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.