Hurricane blows away rivals to confirm status as top two-mile hurdler

Hurricane Fly confirmed he remains at the top of the tree in the two-mile hurdling division with an awesome comeback performance BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday afternoon.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding enjoyed a spectacular campaign last season, with victory in this race one of five Grade One triumphs which also included the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

He signed off with another spectacular performance at the Punchestown Festival in May, but had not been sighted since as champion trainer Mullins admitted before Christmas his stable star was not firing on all cylinders at home.

A pleasing racecourse gallop at Leopardstown this month got his season back on track, but he still had questions to answer as he returned to the competitive stage against talented and race-fit rivals.

Easy to back beforehand, the 4-5 favourite travelled with his trademark panache throughout and the writing was on the wall for his toiling opponents as Ruby Walsh eased Hurricane Fly closer to the front before the turn for home.

Thousand Stars did his best to fight off his stable companion in the straight, but Hurricane Fly went by him without being asked a question and pulled clear after the final flight to score by six-and-a-half lengths.

Oscars Well rallied to deny Mullins a one-two, with Unaccompanied the disappointment of the race in fourth.

Bookmakers were suitably impressed, with Stan James cutting Hurricane Fly to 5-6 favourite from 7-4 for the race they sponsor at Cheltenham in March.

Mullins said: “He completely surprised me. It must be as good a performance as he’s ever produced. Ruby said he wasn’t travelling in the ground early on but once he put him in the race three out, he came alive.

“I was a bit anxious about the ground and he was very quiet beforehand, but maybe he’s just maturing.

“I was surprised how fit he appeared. We’ll keep a lid on him between now and Cheltenham.”

Mullins and Walsh went on to complete a big-race double as Boston Bob (9-4 favourite) enhanced his Cheltenham claims with a fine weight carrying performance in the Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle.

The other major victor at Leopardstown was Peter Casey’s Flemenstar, who ran his rivals ragged in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase. The 6-4 favourite jumped with great fluency on his way to a 19-length win. It was a first Grade One success for the winning trainer.

Meanwhile, Big Buck’s treated Cheltenham racegoers to a preview of what will surely be a fourth victory in March’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle when winning for the 15th time in a row on Saturday.

In overcoming a determined Dynaste by seven lengths in the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, Andy Stewart’s remarkable gelding moved to within one success of the record jumping streak set by Sir Ken in the 1950s. “He’s reached 15 now so hopefully he will make it 16 at the Festival,” said the owner.