RYANAIR

HURDLE (GRADE 1)

THE brilliance, tenacity and towering will to win which have been the hallmarks of Hurricane Fly’s stellar career were all on show as he once again bested old foe Jezki in an epic Ryanair Hurdle.

The eagerly awaited sixth clash between the two leviathans of Irish hurdling promised much and delivered more as Hurricane Fly accounted for the reigning champion hurdler in a titanic tussle. If any thoughts still lingered that the sun had set on Hurricane Fly’s tenure at the head of the two-mile division they have surely been dispelled by the this latest victory for the 21-times Grade 1 scorer who was beating Jezki for the fourth time.

Defeats at Cheltenham and Punchestown towards the end of last season left Hurricane Fly with questions to answer this term but like a true great he has bounced back in style. Indeed, the incredible prospect of him wresting back his Champion Hurdle crown once again is very much alive as he followed up his comeback win in the Morgiana Hurdle.

As he looked to win this race for the fourth time, the Willie Mullins-trained and Ruby Walsh-ridden gelding was returned at 5/6 to account for Jezki (11/8) in a race that attracted an above average turnout of seven runners.

Hurricane Fly did suffer a scare at the first where he took off at the shadow coming into that flight and landed on top of it which resulted in a piece of gorse getting stuck in his girth. He jumped a little big at the next couple of hurdles before appearing to settle into a comfortable rhythm in fifth.

Jezki made his move when going to the front early in the straight. Hurricane Fly had tracked his rival’s every move throughout and, in trademark style, he made his challenge nearing the final flight. Both horses were brilliant at the last, befitting the electric atmosphere, but Hurricane Fly found extra reserves to edge ahead. Jezki fought all the way to the line but his rival refused to yield and Hurricane Fly had half a length to spare.

Arctic Fire ran a huge race and earned himself Champion Hurdle consideration by finishing just a length and a quarter off the front pair. King Of The Picts was a further 15 lengths back in fourth.

The efforts of the first two home were generously acknowledged by the crowd on their return to the enclosure and, after welcoming back the George Creighton and Rose Boyd-owned gelding, a deligthed Willie Mullins said: “It was a fantastic race. Both horses jumped the last brilliantly but when Hurricane Fly got down after the last and put his ears back he really battled, I’ve never known a horse like him to battle. They went at it all the way up the straight and it could have gone either way but Hurricane Fly came out on top and we’ll stick to the usual plan and come back here for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle before Cheltenham.

“His work at home this season had shown me that his old zest for racing is still there. He’s definitely the best I’ve had and horses like this are what you aspire to. He is just unique,” concluded Mullins.

Of the efforts of Arctic Fire, the champion trainer added: “Arctic Fire ran a cracker. We’ve been training him as a Champion Hurdle horse and we were disappointed with his last couple of runs but after the Fighting Fifth we felt maybe that he was lacking a bit of preparation for that race. His home work suggests that he is a very good horse and he’s shown that today. He’ll probably be back here for the Irish Champion Hurdle too.’’

Ruby Walsh paid tribute to Mullins’ handling of the star hurdler: “It’s a very long time ago that he went to Punchestown and won a four-year-old maiden hurdle and for Willie to have kept him on the go since then is nothing short of phenomenal.’’

Jezki lost nothing in defeat and he will be back for another clash with Hurricane Fly in three weeks’ time.

“He couldn’t do any more and he ran his heart out with no excuses. We got closer to Hurricane Fly than we did in the Morgiana so we are inching our way back. I imagine Jezki will come back here for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle and then the Champion Hurdle,” stated Jessica Harrington.