The theory of extending speed out in distance is as sound as the actual practise is rare, but since Hurricane Fly is that rarest of racehorses the three miles of today’s €200,000 Punchestown feature can prove no problem.
The appearance of both ‘The Fly’ and his old rival, and other former Champion Hurdle winner, Jezki, makes the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle perhaps the most eagerly-anticipated clash of the week with both stars tackling three miles for the first time in their illustrious careers.
The trip is the great imponderable: the 10 others, which include last year’s winner, and Jezki’s half brother, Jetsson, as well Hurricane Fly’s old sparring partner and stable companion, Thousand Stars, are guaranteed to stay but have a mountain to climb in terms of official ratings.
Basically it comes down to how effectively Hurricane Fly and Jezki extend their quality out over the longest distance either has faced.
Theoretically it shouldn’t be a problem. Both have won a Hatton’s Grace at two and a half. Jezki is bred to go further, and Willie Mullins’s confidence in ‘The Fly’s’ stamina is such that he is sizing up another Champion Hurdle crown in France in June over three miles-plus.
But if it were that easy then there would be a pattern of champions successfully going up in trip as they got older and there hardly is, although we have been here before.
In 2007, just six weeks after finding only Sublimity too good when defending his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham, Brave Inca ran in this race and managed only a sore sixth behind horses he would normally have kicked out of the way in terms of quality.
Brave Inca was a top performer. So is Jezki, but the parameters have long since been redrawn in terms of quantifying Hurricane Fly’s enduring excellence.
A perfect three-from-three season at home brought his world-record Grade 1 tally to 22, prior to an honourable third to Faugheen in his fifth Champion Hurdle attempt. If he hasn’t managed to stop time, then he continues to put a heavy brake on it.
Since Mullins won this race four years in a row with Quevega he knows what is required here and the trainer said: “Remember he won over two and a half miles as a four-year-old in France, and we thought over the years three miles wouldn’t be a problem.
“It just depends on his temperament on the day. Sometimes he can be very keen, if it’s a slow-run race. But I think the trip is no problem. I think he deserves a crack at it.”
Settling will be crucial to Hurricane Fly getting home but he has raced noticeably more relaxed this season and looks a much different proposition to the tired looking horse who chased home Jezki here a year ago.
Champions are supposed to be able to win on any ground. Hurricane Fly can prove they can win over any trip too.
