No flies on imperious Hurricane
The eight-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign last season, with victories in the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham featuring among five unbeaten Grade One triumphs.
His comeback had been delayed up until his defence of his Irish Champion Hurdle crown on Sunday as Mullins had not been entirely happy with his stable star in the first half of the season.
But Hurricane Fly showed he had lost none of his dash with a truly magnificent performance which left even his trainer slightly stunned.
Mullins said on Monday: âHeâs fine this morning, which is great news.
âHe really surprised me how well he did it yesterday. He was very quiet in the parade ring beforehand, but maybe heâs just maturing.
âHe was very good in the race and I hope he can improve, but, having said that, if I can get him to Cheltenham in the same sort of form as he was yesterday I think Iâd be happy enough.
âWe have six weeks until Cheltenham and Iâll just train him as I see him between now and then.â
Jockey Ruby Walsh was pleased with the performance of Hurricane Fly, but felt one or two of his beaten rivals failed to show their best form.
He said: âHe was very impressive, he settled beautifully and jumped really well in a true-run race.
âIt was a good jump at the second-last. He jumped past Oscars Well, joined Thousand Stars, and he came came alive and the race was over.
âItâs good to see him back. It was a great performance.
âI probably was surprised (he won by that far). I donât think Thousand Stars ran as good as he can run.
âThey went a really good gallop and Paul (Townend) gave him a breather down the back but he just didnât quicken again, which is unlike him.
âObviously Unaccompanied didnât fire, she ran considerably worse than she did at Christmas, and Oscars Well has run a really good race.
âYouâd hope (thereâs a lot left).â
Walsh admits this yearâs Stan James Champion Hurdle is a hard race to assess, though, with many of last yearâs rivals having switched to chasing.
âItâs hard to know (how strong this yearâs race will be),â he told At The Races.
âThereâs no Peddlers Cross, itâs up in the air what they will do with Oscar Whisky, Thousand Stars was third, while Sprinter Sacre and Menorah have gone chasing.
âZarkandar runs in less than a fortnight and the horses behind him are pitching at it.
âThereâs quite a bit to go yet.â
* Ruby Walsh has appealed against the three-day ban he incurred at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Walsh was found guilty of causing interference when partnering Pearl Swan to be first past the post in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial.
While he beat Grumeti a short head, the two horses got very close in the finish and the stewards opted to reverse the places and banned Walsh for his efforts in the saddle.
The suspension means Walsh would miss the ride aboard Zarkandar in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 11, but the British Horseracing Authority said the jockey contested the decision on Monday morning.
âYouâd never be optimistic (of getting it overturned), but I didnât think it warranted a three-day ban,â he told At The Races.
âIt was very minimal interference and a very minimal offence, if Iâm guilty of an offence.â




