Fly shortens as Dunguib misses Leopardstown

Hurricane Fly will face a maximum of five rivals in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown after Dunguib was ruled out of Sunday’s Grade One feature with a minor blood disorder.

The Philip Fenton-trained Dunguib had been due to make his first start since April’s Punchestown Festival, and was the 9-2 third-favourite with Paddy Power, who are to refund all bets on the eight-year-old, winner of the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2009.

Hurricane Fly is now a 1-2 chance with his old adversary Solwhit a 5-2 chance.

Fenton said: "Unfortunately he's going to miss Sunday. We blood tested him this morning and it is not quite up to scratch so we are going to have to divert.

“The Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran (February 12) is the next assignment. Thankfully it’s nothing serious, it’s not a major blood problem and is treatable, it will just set him back 10 days or so.”