Fly jets in for French Champion mission

Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly in rude health ahead of the legendary hurdler’s return to his homeland for the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil in Paris tomorrow.

The remarkable 11-year-old can count two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and five triumphs in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown among his record 22 Grade One victories and now gets the chance to add the French equivalent to his CV.

Hurricane Fly will make his first appearance in France in almost seven years in the near three-and-a-quarter-mile contest, having found old foe Jezki too strong on his latest appearance at the Punchestown Festival at the end of April.