Hurricane whips up perfect storm
Magnificent timber-toppers like Istabraq arrive all too rarely, but it is surely time now to start talking about Hurricane Fly in the same breath.
Willie Mullins described what he did here as “awesome” and it summed up perfectly the display of the superb Montjeu gelding.
They walked in the early stages, with Binocular a reluctant leader.
Tony McCoy soon realised the potential was now there for a farce of a contest and, to his credit, took the bull by the horns and soon set Binocular alight.
What followed was a proper race. Binocular set a strong gallop, but was never going to get home, as he showed a marked tendency to jump away to his left.
Menorah headed him at the fourth last, but the pair were locked together approaching the home turn.
Ruby Walsh had stayed a fair way out of his ground on Hurricane Fly, but those punters who had waded in had no real cause for alarm.
Hurricane Fly soon sauntered into contention and cruised ahead heading to the final flight, literally doing half-speed.
He flicked across the obstacle with typical aplomb and powered up to the line five lengths clear of his running-on stable companion, Thousand Stars.
“He was so well and so strong in himself, I thought it would take a good horse to beat him, although I wasn’t that confident half way down the back”, revealed Mullins.
“He won’t run again this season and all our focus will be on returning to Cheltenham and then back here. We will be taking it one step at the time and all I want to do now is to get him home.”
Regarding Thousand Stars, Mullins is considering taking him to France and then a possible campaign on the flat.
Walsh made no secret of his admiration for Hurricane Fly. “He’s the best I have ever ridden’’, he said.
“I think he could win a Group 1 on the flat! My only worry was getting to the front too soon.
“He is a wonderful horse, he travelled and jumped super. He’s won five Grade 1’s, in five races, this season and you cannot argue with that.”
Boylesports quickly shortened Hurricane Fly from 7-2 to 7-4 for next year’s Champion Hurdle. Stan James offered 7-4, from 3-1, and he is 2-1 with William Hill and 7-4 with Ladbrokes.
