Cheltenham Festival: Hurricane Fly can make the winds of fear blow

BOOKMAKERS are likely to be running for cover if the mighty Hurricane Fly can strike a blow for punters this afternoon and successfully defend his crown in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Willie Mullins-trained superstar will be the first of four horses putting their titles on the line in the championship races at the Festival, with Champion Chase favourite Sizing Europe, World Hurdle ‘good thing’ Big Buck’s and Gold Cup hero Long Run completing the quartet over the week.

It is far from inconceivable all four could collect, a thought that has the layers quivering on the eve of the Prestbury Park jamboree. Coral’s David Stevens said: “We can’t remember a Festival where so many fancied horses were in action and these reigning champions, along with the likes of Quevega and Sprinter Sacre, will be written on thousands of betting slips. Wins for all these hot favourites would ensure bookmakers endured their most painful payout since Frankie Dettori went through the card at Ascot 16 years ago, a day that saw £40million returned to punters.

“It’s fair to say we are approaching this year’s Festival with more than a little trepidation. Hopefully we’ll still be standing at the end of it.”

Mullins was on course at Cheltenham to watch Hurricane Fly go through the motions and is confident his charge is in the same form as when making a hugely impressive seasonal return in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January. “He rode out nicely this morning and seems in nice form,” said Mullins. “He seems much more relaxed on the gallop over here than he was last year. They are calling the ground good, good to soft in places, but after walking the track this morning, I’d say there is a lot of good.”

The Irish champion trainer also saddles Zaidpour, who is unbeaten in his last four starts. “The ground is probably too dry for him, but he has Grade One form over two miles, so we have to give him his chance to do it,” Mullins said. “He wasn’t right last year coming to the Festival and we think he’s in good order this year.”

Connections of Binocular are expecting a big run from the 2010 winner, who was unable to defend his crown 12 months ago. The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old landed the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton before supplementing that with victory in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month. “I know AP [McCoy] came back happy after Wincanton and I was thrilled. He looked like his old self the way he jumped,” said trainer Nicky Henderson.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is responsible for four of the ten runners as he seeks to win this race for the first time. Zarkandar, who lifted the Triumph Hurdle last year, is the pick of his quartet thanks to victory in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

Jessica Harrington believes the expected fast pace will suit Oscars Well, who she feels is coming to hand at the right time.

The seven-year-old was runner-up to Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle and would probably have won the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the 2011 Festival but for a mistake at the last. “Realistically, I do feel Hurricane Fly is going to be very hard to beat but it’s racing, you never know what can happen,” she said.

Sprinter Sacre is favourite in the Racing Post Arkle. Henderson’s ‘aeroplane’ has broken three track records this season and simply devours the challenge of fences. His critics will say he failed to come up the hill in the Supreme last season but, in truth, he was probably in front too soon, so well was he travelling turning into the straight. Al Ferof will also have his followers after staying on strongly to beat the favourite 12 months ago.

If it is a decent priced winner you are looking for to set you up for the rest of the week, that should come in the opening William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle where it is 5-1 the field, and Alan King’s Montbazon could be the answer.

The JLT Specialty Chase can go the way of Donald McCain’s Our Mick. Novices have a good record in this race and while Our Mick is only six, he has plenty of experience over fences.

Uncle Junior can defy top weight in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, while Quevega will surely win the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle to give Mullins another winner.