Fly looks good for four in-a-row
This is Hurricane’s favourite track, with his score standing at six wins in seven outings.
At Cheltenham in March he became only the second horse in history — the other was Comedy Of Errors — to regain the Champion Hurdle.
The nine-year-old hit a flat spot at the top of the hill, but came back on the bridle and then roared away from the home turn to beat Rock On Ruby by two and a half lengths.
Rock On Ruby is tough as nails and certainly has more scope for improvement than Hurricane Fly.
But there is ever reason to think that heavy rain on Wednesday night, into Thursday morning, has compromised his prospects.
Un de Sceaux is the nap choice in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle. Successful twice in his native France, he made his debut in this country at Punchestown last month.
Despite running far too freely for his own good, the selection picked up again in the straight to beat the subsequent winner, Sammy Black, by six lengths.
Pony Alexandre is fancied to get back on song in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle.
An Irish banker heading to Cheltenham, he performed way below par to finish a well-beaten third behind The New One and Rule The World in the Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle.
Prior to that Pont Alexandre revelled in heavy ground when scoring impressively at Navan and Leopardstown and it may well be that the five-year-old needs such conditions to be seen at this best.
Much interest will centre on Oscar Delta in the Racing Post Champion Hunters Chase. He would won have won the Foxhunters at Cheltenham, Salsify took advantage, but for swerving and dislodging Jane Mangan on the run in.
The ground now favours Oscar Delta and he has to be fancied to gain a modicum of compensation.
