Fehily hoping State Of Play can provide National delight

The last few weeks have been the best of times for Noel Fehily.

Day one at Cheltenham was supposed to centre around Ruby. It did but it was the Fehily-ridden Rock On Ruby rather than the Ruby Walsh-ridden ‘good thing’ Hurricane Fly who took the glory by claiming a shock victory in the Champion Hurdle. Four weeks on the man from Castletownkenneigh in Co. Cork is still basking in the glow of a deserved big-race win.

‘‘We’re still living on that one. It was a great victory and I’m still on a high after it,’’ he says. ‘‘Without a doubt it was my best day in racing. You dream of winning Champion Hurdles but you never think it’s going to happen so it was a wonderful day.