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Irish Champion Hurdle 2012 |
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racing news /
Hurricane Fly Cruises to Champion Hurdle Victory
29/01/12
1 Hurricane Fly 4/5F
2 Oscars Well 8/1
3 Thousand Stars 11/2
5 ran Distances: 6½l, 3½l, 29l
TIME 4m 5.10s (slow by 20.10s)
Hurricane Fly made a brilliant seasonal reappearance to land back-to-back victories in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
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Willie Mullins' imperious performer cruised by his pacesetting stable companion Thousand Stars before the final flight under a confident ride from Ruby Walsh and went on to win as he liked.
The 4-5 favourite romped home by six and a half lengths from Oscars Well, who managed to grab second place, with Thousand Stars third in the testing conditions and the well-backed Unaccompanied never in the hunt in fourth.
Mullins said: "He completely surprised me. It must be as good a performance as he's ever produced.
"They went a right good gallop. 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.
"Normally it takes two lads to lead him as he can be a bit tight. We had been worried before Cheltenham last year how he would handle everything, including the parade, but he went round like a handicapper today.
"I was a little concerned he would flop as my first two runners disappointed. I was surprised how fit he appeared. We'll keep a lid on him between now and Cheltenham."
It was Hurricane Fly's first run since he signed off last season with a victory at Punchestown in May to complete five Grade One successes on the bounce during an unbeaten campaign.
Hurricane Fly is evens (from 7-4) favourite with MansionBet for a repeat Champion Hurdle win, following his winning reappearance at Leopardstown this afternoon.
"It may have been a delayed reappearance for Hurricane Fly, but it was well worth waiting for, and having proved his wellbeing in emphatic fashion, he is now red-hot favourite for back-to-back Champion Hurdle wins," said Coral's David Stevens.
**Stan James Champion Hurdle
Evs (from 7-4) Hurricane Fly, 6-1 Grandouet, 8-1 Zarkandar, 10-1 Binocular, 14-1 Oscars Well, Rock On Ruby, Unaccompanied, 20-1 Oscar Whiskey, Thousand Stars, 25-1 Brampour, 33-1 Mikael D’Haguenet, Overturn, 40-1 Bar
