Horse racing: Hurricane to defend Hurdle

Published on Thursday 19 January 2012 03:15

DEFENDING champion Hurricane Fly – generally around the 2-1 mark with bookmakers – is among 27 horses entered for the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on 13 March.

Willie Mullins’ excellent hurdler has not been seen since his emphatic win at the Punchestown Festival last May, but is due to reappear in the Irish Champion Hurdle next weekend where he can dispel any doubts about his well-being.

Ireland’s champion trainer has enviable strength in depth in the race, and has also entered Thousand Stars, So Young, Mikael D’Haguenet, Zaidpour, Final Approach and Flat Out. Nicky Henderson is another with multiple entries. Spirit Son, due to have a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Thursday, 2010 champion Binocular, last year’s third Oscar Whisky and the improving Grandouet comprise his strong squad. Paul Nicholls also has a strong hand. Rock On Ruby, narrowly denied at the Festival last year, Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar, Greatwood scorer Brampour and the durable Celestial Halo could all represent the Ditcheat maestro.

A possible improver could be Dermot Weld’s Unaccompanied, who looked impressive when beating Thousand Stars in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle.

She is first due to put her credentials on the line first against Hurricane Fly next weekend. Stan Cosgrove, racing manager for her owners, Moyglare Stud, said: “She is due to run in the Irish Champion Hurdle and then hopefully she will head on to Cheltenham. I think that Dermot is confident she can run well against Hurricane Fly and we have to take him on at some point.”

The Donald McCain-trained Overturn has run some great races this season, including a defeat of Binocular in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, and will aim to go one better than stablemate Peddlers Cross managed last season. Peddlers Cross has also been given an entry, but is one of the favourites for the Arkle Trophy over fences.

At Newbury yesterday there was a huge shock in a dramatic opener as Crafty Roberto ran out a fortunate winner of the Berkshire Stand Bookshop Juvenile Hurdle as favourite Grumeti crashed out. Everything appeared to be going to plan for Alan King’s Triumph Hurdle hope and he drew clear of two smart Flat performers, Art History and Sud Pacifique, without being asked a question. However, with the race seemingly in the bag, Grumeti slipped on landing after the second last and Wayne Hutchinson fell out of the side door. That left Art History in front but he was treading water on approaching the final flight as Crafty Roberto (40-1) picked him up and went on to win by a length and a half.

The writing also looked on the wall for the odds-on favourite in the next as Bellvano loomed up to Cedre Bleu before the last fence in the Zenergi Novices’ Chase. Barry Geraghty looked ultra-confident on Henderson`s charg and he even hit the front approaching the last. Ruby Walsh kept on battling on Cedre Bleu and, when Geraghty asked his mount to quicken he found nothing. The 5-6 favourite pulled two and a half lengths clear at the line.

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