Fly swats away Champion rivals
Hurricane Fly gave trainer Willie Mullins his first BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle success when boosting his Cheltenham prospects at Leopardstown.
The 4-9 favourite duly defeated his old adversary Solwhit for the fourth time in five meetings on his final start before the Stan James-sponsored showpiece at Prestbury Park in March.
Mullins’ other runner, Thousand Stars, set the pace and hard as though Solwhit tried to make a race of it, he had to settle for second best again, three and a half lengths behind the 4-9 winner, ridden by Paul Townend.
Thousand Stars was third, with Voler La Vedette fourth and Sublimity last of the five runners.
Mullins said: “I think he’ll go straight to Cheltenham now. I haven’t any other plans for him. I’m delighted to get that over with.
“That was a good performance and we’ll give him a little break now before building him up again for Cheltenham.
“He can jump a bit right when there is nothing on his outside but is very slick when other horses are around him.”
The sponsors cut Hurricane Fly from 5-1 to 9-2 for the Stan James Champion Hurdle after his triumph.
Day Of A Lifetime sparked a double for Mullins and Townend when staking his own claim for a ticket to Cheltenham in the Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
The 100-30 favourite had disappointed in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at last year’s Festival but made no mistake on his jumps debut as he landed a cosy success by two and a half lengths from Gift Of Dgab.
Quotes ranged from 14-1 to 20s about Day Of A Lifetime for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Mullins said: “We’ll try to get another run into him before Cheltenham but it may not be possible to run him again before the Festival.
“He’ll be entered for both the Supreme Novices’ and the Neptune.”
Realt Dubh (5-2 favourite) just edged out Noble Prince in a tremendous finish to the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.
There was nothing between the two from the final fence, but it was the Noel Meade-trained Realt Dubh, ridden by Paul Carberry, who was a short head to the good at the line. Mr Cracker was third.
Meade said: “He jumped brilliantly and a strong-run two miles seems to suit.
“He’ll go for the Arkle at Cheltenham now and, looking further down the line, the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse is another probable target.”
The winner carries the colours of Derek Sharkey, whose father, Des, is the owner of the runner-up.
Hidden Cyclone, the 7-4 favourite, appreciated the step up in trip as he returned to winning ways in the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle.
Shark Hanlon’s young prospect had suffered his first defeat over this course last month but he made amends with a smooth success in this Grade Two contest, beating Ballyhaunis by two lengths.
Hanlon said: “He won’t ever go back in trip again. I’ll have to talk it over with the owners but I’m not overly keen on going to Cheltenham.”
Mart Lane (11-4) later gave Hanlon a double when making a winning debut in the Follow Us On Facebook (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Hanlon added: “I thought he’d be more impressive and was a Cheltenham horse.
“I’m not sure now and we’ll have to talk it over before deciding what to do.”
Mart Lane’s owner Barry Connell was celebrating a brace of his own as he had earlier had his colours carried to victory by the Colm Murphy-trained Glam Gerry (7-1) in the New Tote Daily Double Handicap Hurdle.
By The Hour, meanwhile, came with a timely challenge to get the better of the favourite Questions Answered in a dramatic race for the Ryan’s Event Cleaners Handicap Chase.
Phillip Enright made his move on Robert Tyner’s mare (16-1) after Arklow Ger had come to the grief at the second-last, but the first two did come very close on the dash to the line and a stewards’ inquiry was called after By The Hour had prevailed by a length and a half.
Deal Done, who was short of room on the far rail, was third past the post, with Conem fourth.
However, the placings remained altered.
