Fly can swat rivals in Champion

This weekend is all about the return of Hurricane Fly, who will attempt to tighten his grip on the Champion Hurdle market in the BHP Insurance-sponsored Irish version at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Willie Mullins was adamant he would not take the wraps off his brilliant eight-year-old until happy with the horse and clearly Hurricane Fly is now ready to do himself justice.

Generally regarded as the best hurdler since Istabraq, he finally revealed his true identity with a cracking defeat of Peddlers Cross in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Then he rounded off a terrific campaign when cruising home five lengths clear of Thousand Stars at Punchestown in May.

The massively progressive Unaccompanied, Oscars Well and Thousand Stars help make this a fascinating contest, but Hurricane Fly has to get the vote.

The nap falls on Tony Martin’s Thomas Edison in the Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle. He showed his appreciation of some decent ground at Leopardstown at Christmas when quickening in style to win a bumper by four and a quarter lengths.

Hopefully, the surface will remain on the good side and the form of that contest could hardly have worked out any better with the second and third respectively, Champagne Fever and The Mighty Milan, recording emphatic successes in the meantime.

The Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors’ Arkle Novice Chase can go to Flemenstar. He is rapidly on the upgrade and there was a lot to like about the way he dismissed Lambro at Naas.

As a big fan of Willie Mullins’ Boston Bob it pains one to desert him in the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle.

His Grade 1 win at Navan could hardly have worked out any better, but he faces a stiff task trying to give 10lbs to stable companion, Make Your Mark, who took his maiden at Leopardstown by ten lengths.

Shark Hanlon’s Hidden Cyclone gets the nod in the Grade 2 boylesports.com Bet On Your Mobile Novice Chase at Leopardstown today. A prolific winner over flights, he made a satisfactory start over fences on this track when beating Nearest The Pin.

Dermot Weld’s Hisaabaat, on his second to Ut De Sivola at Punchestown, is the obvious form horse in the leopardstown.com Maiden Hurdle.

Hisaabaat did, however, show a tendency to jump to his right at Naas previously and it is a worry he might repeat that.

As a result the ex-French Darroun, beaten half a length by heavily-backed favourite Shadow Catcher at Punchestown, is preferred.

Competitive Edge, outclassed by Make Your Mark at Leopardstown, faces nothing of that calibere in thne ITBA Expo 29012 Maiden Hurdle and is the choice.