Hughes retains faith in Conor

Dessie Hughes is confident Our Conor will head to the Cheltenham Festival with a “fighting chance” of claiming Champion Hurdle glory after making Hurricane Fly pull out all the stops at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Last year’s devastating Triumph Hurdle winner was firmly put in his place by Hurricane Fly in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, but with improvement expected, connections were keen to have another crack at Willie Mullins’ superstar in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle.

For a brief moment after touching down after the final flight Our Conor looked set to dethrone the champion, but Hurricane Fly roared back on the run-in to secure his fourth successive Irish Champion Hurdle crown and his 19th Grade One in all.