Late scare for Fly in record bid
The record-breaking 18-times Grade One winner and dual Cheltenham Champion Hurdle hero put younger rivals Jezki and Our Conor firmly in their place with a typically brilliant display in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, and now aims to join Istabraq by winning this prestigious prize four times.
However, the 10-year-old’s preparation suffered a minor setback earlier this week and with Jezki and Our Conor back for more, trainer Willie Mullins admits his superstar will have to be right on his game with Ruby Walsh if he is to make it eight wins from as many starts at the Foxrock track this weekend.
“He worked poorly during the week and it turned out he had a bruise on his foot. He seems fine since, so we’ll see how he goes,” said Mullins.
“We could have taken the easy way out and not run, but at the end of the day it’s the Irish Champion Hurdle. Sometimes athletes carry bits of injuries into games and we’re happy to let him take his chance.
“I think he will need to reproduce his best form to win as I would expect both Jezki and Our Conor to come forward from the run at Christmas.”
Ruby Walsh feels the switch of track could play a crucial part in the outcome of the race. “He hasn’t won 18 Grade Ones for no reason. He’s won them because he’s a very, very good horse,” he said. “On Sunday in Leopardstown we’ll be on the inner track, which is a sharper, speedier track. If you look at it coldly, it probably suits me a bit better.”
The Dessie Hughes-trained Our Conor was beaten almost six lengths into third by Hurricane Fly last month on his first appearance over hurdles since his runaway Triumph Hurdle display last March.
Owner Barry Connell said: “We’ve been very happy with him since the run at Christmas. He’s had a clear run and everything looks to be in order. He should strip a bit fitter and hopefully he’ll be a bit more competitive, so we’ll see.”
Jezki made an excellent start to the season by winning at Down Royal and Fairyhouse and split Hurricane Fly and Our Conor at Leopardstown. Jessica Harrington’s six-year-old was beaten two and a half lengths and may have finished even closer had he not been hampered early in the straight.
Harrington said: “I have been delighted with him since Christmas. Maybe he was a bit unlucky there, but he ran a very good race and it was the first time he had come up against that class of horse. His preparation has gone very well and we will have to wait to see if he can get closer to Hurricane Fly – it all depends on luck in running and how the race goes.”
