Hurricane Fly confirmed he will not give up his crown at Cheltenham in March without a fight after clinching a fourth successive BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle in thrilling style at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins’s remarkable 10-year-old was a 4 to 7 favourite to emulate the great Istabraq, the only previous four-times winner of this prestigious Grade One event, despite the Irish champion trainer admitting his pride and joy had produced “his worst bit of work ever” only a few days ago.
A bruised foot was quickly blamed for that disappointing gallop, but there were still some concerns as he lined up for a second clash with up-and-coming pair Our Conor and Jezki.
Hurricane Fly had beaten the two young guns in the Ryanair Hurdle at the Foxrock venue almost a month ago, but with Our Conor expected to improve for the run and Jezki slightly unlucky that day, both camps fancied their chances of closing the gap.
Admirable veteran Captain Cee Bee took the four runners along before the three main protagonists closed up rounding the home turn, with Ruby Walsh aboard Hurricane Fly and Our Conor’s rider Danny Mullins both confident in the saddle.
There was little to choose between the duo at the final flight and, just for a moment, it looked like Dessie Hughes’s charge might be getting on top.
But Hurricane Fly roared back and was a length and a half to the good at the line, despite a less-than-fluent leap at the last, with Captain Cee Bee and Jezki third and fourth respectively.
It was an eighth Leopardstown victory from as many starts for Mullins’s superstar and an astonishing 19th Grade One triumph in all.
Mullins said: “That was a huge relief. I have huge respect for the horse to do what he did, coming off the bit of work he did during the week.
“If he had been an ordinary horse he wouldn’t have run. It was his worst bit of work ever.
“I was so disappointed coming off the gallops. I was saying to myself, ‘Is the dream over with him and has he had enough?’
“Thankfully we found he had a bruised foot. He seemed fine the next morning and he’s been fine since.
“I thought when Our Conor came upsides him at the last he was beat.
“It was the first time he’s ever missed the last and I was thinking to myself, ‘There’s that bad bit of work’, but he showed his guts and he battled back.
“For the horse to come here with a bad prep and win that I’m very happy with where I’m at with him.”
Hurricane Fly’s brilliant victory was the clear highlight of a four-timer for Walsh.
The Mullins-trained Sure Reef (9 to 4 joint-favourite) came from last to first in the straight to claim the Grade Two Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle and could also be bound for Cheltenham, with the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle a potential aim.
Walsh also produce brilliant, albeit differing, rides on two Tony Martin-trained winners.
Quickpick Vic (6 to 1) firstly made every yard of the running in the Leopardstown Sports Lounge Maiden Hurdle, while 9 to 4 favourite Wrong Turn needed every ounce of Walsh's strength to get up by a head in the Leopardstown Racecourse Handicap Chase.
Trifolium proved jockey Bryan Cooper right with a superb display in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.
As Gigginstown House Stud’s new number one jockey, Cooper could have ridden the better-fancied Mozoltov, but instead sided with the Charles Byrnes-trained 7 to 1 chance.
The seven-year-old took over from 11 to 8 favourite Defy Logic, who had beaten him last month, three fences from home and came home nine lengths clear of Felix Yonger.
Defy Logic dropped out quickly and was later found to have burst a blood vessel.
Byrnes is now looking forward to a tilt at the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
He said: “We had a terrible year with him last year and nothing went right, but all roads lead back to Cheltenham now.”
Trainer Arthur Moore and champion jockey Davy Russell combined to take the Sandyford Handicap Chase with 2 to 1 favourite Treat Yourself, while Dermot Weld's Windsor Park (2 to 1) ran away with the concluding bumper in the hands of Robbie McNamara.
Weld said: “He was pretty impressive and will be even better on better ground. He has the potential to be a Cheltenham horse.”
