Racing:Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly to be "100 per cent" ahead of his planned seasonal return in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The eight-year-old was unbeaten in five Grade One starts last season, landing the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and rounding off a stellar campaign with victory at Punchestown.
But the French-bred gelding has sidestepped two intended runs already this season, with the champion trainer admitting he had not been pleased with how his star performer had been showing up at home.
An impressive racecourse gallop at Leopardstown last week was considered a major step forward, however, and Mullins is keeping everything crossed that Hurricane Fly is back at the Foxrock venue on January 29th.
“He just hadn’t been pleasing me in his work and if his work is not good, I’m not happy and he’s not running,” said Mullins.
“He’s a horse who is very sharp in his work, but he has obviously not been coming up the gallop as fast as I think he is able to. He did please me the other day and hopefully we can build on that.
“I don’t think he needs to improve too much from his work the other day. I thought it was very good work and I’m more than happy with him now. With a clear run between now and the 29th, he’ll be more or less at his best I hope.
“At the moment I don’t see any problem with Hurricane Fly. He’s working well and doing everything right.
“He did a little bit of work yesterday and I was very pleased with him. Paul (Townend) rode him out this morning and he’s 100 per cent. I’d say two more good bits of work will do him (before Leopardstown).”
Stablemate Thousand Stars is more likely to line up in the Champion Hurdle than the World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, according to Mullins.
The admirable performer was fourth behind Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle last year, but has since proved his ability to stay three miles with a Grade One victory in France.
Mullins said: “At the moment I would be going Champion Hurdle. It’s going to be hard to beat Big Buck’s (in the World Hurdle), but hopefully, it’s going to be hard to beat Hurricane Fly.
“He’s got some nice options after that. I actually think the race in Aintree (Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles) should be his big target this season.”
The grey made an impressive return to action when making all the running in the two-mile Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November but was beaten by Unaccompanied having been ridden less aggressively at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Ruby Walsh’s tactics in the latter race were criticised in some quarters afterwards, but Mullins believes it is easy to be wise after the event.
“There was plenty of pace on in the race and Ruby did what he thought was right. He was giving a very good mare 10lb, who has more speed tactically,” Mullins said.
“It’s easy to ride from the stands after the race. Ruby did what he thought was right, he might ride it differently, but you don’t get that option do you? Ruby gets it right nine times out of 10, or maybe more.”