Mullins thrilled with Fly

Willie Mullins yesterday expressed his delight with Hurricane Fly as the crack two-miler builds towards the defence of his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham next month.

Having only recently started to please Mullins in his home work, the eight-year-old made his first appearance since Punchestown last May when cruising to success in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

Reporting him to have thrived since, Mullins said: “Hurricane Fly is fantastically well at the moment. Paul (Townend) rides him out every day at home and he said he’s jumping out of his skin.