Ageless Hurricane Fly does it again; fifth success in the Irish Champion Hurdle

The irrespressible Hurricane Fly snatched a fifth victory in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle out of the fire at Leopardstown.

The high crusing speed that racing fans have come to associate with the 11-year-old was absent, but the bravery and tenacity was still there by the shedload

Three out, Ruby Walsh was pushing along and appeared to be losing ground in fourth as Jezki took up the running from the pacesetting Plinth and made the best of their way home.

But having got back on to an even keel and pushed his way past Fiscal Focus into a gap from which he could throw down a challenge, he ate up the ground on the leader around the home turn.

The stage looked set for a battle royal from that point, but Hurricane Fly, who had just about nosed in front, winged the last and his jump perhaps just put off the rallying Jezki, who bungled the flight, stumbled on landing, and lost all momentum.

That left Hurricane Fly to come home gloriously clear of never-nearer stablemate Arctic Fire.

Not only was it his fifth win in this race, but it was also a perfect 10 out of 10 at Leopardstown and, incredibly, his 22nd victory at Grade One level.

Hurricane Fly was cut from 10/1 to 7/1 by Sky Bet for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, with Jezki pushed out to 11/2 to defend his crown.

Walsh said: "He didn't travel with the same fluidity as he has done in the past today, but I suppose when the going got a little bit tougher going to the second-last he started to pick up.

"When he rounded the bend and I got to AP [McCoy, on Jezki] I was thinking 'How much is he going to find?', but when I saw AP go for his whip I knew I had him covered.

"I was going as fast as I was able - as fast as he (Hurricane Fly) wanted to go. Anyway. I was struggling.

"It was the outside track, we didn't go mad early and they stepped up down the back to draw the sting out of us. It was a testing race.

"When I got more aggressive with him, he started to pick up and when I got on to AP's tail, he stuck his head down like he always does."

Walsh said he was confident Hurricane Fly had Jezki's measure when the latter made his mistake.

He said: "He gave me a brilliant jump at the last. Obviously Jezki stepped into it and missed it and that probably enhanced the margin we won by, but he's an incredible horse.

"I jumped the last well and going on past performances, he wasn't going to shirk the issue from there home.

"I thought I had it. It was unfortunate Jezki made the mistake, as without Jezki you wouldn't have the race.

"He's come back here now and won five of these and 22 Grade Ones, he's a pleasure to ride, he's a credit to Willie and the staff at Closutton, he's just a marvellous little horse.

"This horse means a huge amount to me. I ride so many horses with potential but for horses to go and deliver and to go and repeat it and deliver - Kauto (Star) managed it, Big Buck's, it takes iron horses to do it and that's what they are, they're incredible horses and I'm just very lucky to have come along at a time when these good horses are around."

Walsh now faces an agonising decision as to whether to ride Hurricane Fly once more at Cheltenham in March or partner his stable companion and ante-post Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen.

He said: "When the two of them are working well three days before the race, I'll make it then."

Mullins, who won all three Graded races on the day, added: "We're just enjoying days like this now and you have to keep asking 'Are you sure he's not five?'. He keeps pulling out performances like that. He was fantastic and he did it the hard way, they made a staying race of it.

"I thought it was a slow pace over the first two furlongs, but when they disappeared around the bend and down the back, they took off. So much so that he appeared not to be able to keep up, but when push came to shove, he just got down to race and he got, as he always does, a crucial jump at the last and the other horse made a mistake and that was it, all over.

"He's beaten the reigning English (Champion Hurdle) champion three times this season, but I was certainly worried going down the back today. They quickened and there was a gap of two to three lengths. That's where it means so much to have a rider like Ruby that won't panic. It's all go for Cheltenham now."

Asked which horse Walsh would ride, Mullins said: "He might ask for my advice on what to ride, but first of all you have to get there and we can worry about that on the day."

Jezki's trainer Jessica Harrington offered no excuses. She said: "Tony (McCoy) said he was beaten going to the last. I thought he was going to turn over and I couldn't believe he got a leg out and galloped on to the line - it was fantastic that they did stay intact.

"He seemed to be absolutely fine coming back in afterwards. Tony said Jezki ran well and jumped well, he probably did a bit too much going down the back and he said Hurricane Fly just picked him off very easily going to the last and it would have been the same as the last time.

"If he'd jumped the last well, he'd probably have been second beaten the same distance again.

"Everything else (bar the mistake) went to plan and he's in good form and we've now got to go Cheltenham in March and hope that the hill will make a difference.

"Hurricane Fly is unbeatable around here, that's for definite, we'll have to find some other weapon to beat him!"