Cheltenham Diary

THE post-race reaction following Hurricane Fly’s victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle was fascinating.

Willie Mullins paid an emotional tribute to his late father, saying “during the build-up with this horse I kept thinking ‘what would dad do?’ I tried to follow the same path.”

An opening day double was a huge fillip to the champion trainer but it’s the handling of his two jockeys that shows the qualities of the man.