Fifth Irish Champion Hurdle for the Fly

Hurricane Fly continued to rewrite the record books with a brilliant success in BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown this afternoon.

Willie Mullins' exceptional hurdler eclipsed the mighty Istabraq as he moved on to five successes in the race.

It was his 22nd Grade One victory and he maintained his remarkable unbeaten record at the track making it 10 from 10.

It wasn't all plain sailing for the 11/10 favourite, however, with Ruby Walsh niggling along his mount after the third last.

He responded in some style, however, and once again showed terrific courage and battling qualities to get the job done.

Old rival Jezki had jumped to the fore at the third last and travelled well at the head of affairs as they rounded for home.

Hurricane Fly wore him down before the last, however, and had a narrow advantage when the reigning champion hurdler blundered at the final flight.

Arctic Fire came through to give chase on the run-in but could only get within three-and-a-half lengths of his illustrious stable-mate.

"That's fantastic. He did it the hard way today. They made a complete staying race of it today," said Mullins.

"I thought it was slow for the first two furlongs but when they disappeared round the bend and down the back they took off. So much so that he appeared not to be able to keep up.

"When push came to shove he just got down to race. He got, as he always does, a crucial jump at the last and when the other horse made a mistake that was it all over.

"We're just enjoying days like this now, and you have to keep asking are you sure he's not five. He keeps pulling out performances like that.  

"He (Ruby) might ask for my advice on what to ride but first of all you have to get there, and we can worry about that on the day.

"He's beaten the reigning English champion three times this season but I was certainly worried going down the back today.

"They quickened and there was a gap of two to three lengths. That's where it means so much to have a rider like Ruby that won't panic."

Walsh said: "He didn't travel with the same fluidity as he has done in the past today, but I suppose when the going got a little bit tougher going to the second-last he started to pick up.

"When he rounded the bend and I got to AP (McCoy, on Jezki) I was thinking 'how much is he going to find?', but when I saw AP go for his whip I knew I had him covered.

"I was going as fast as I was able - as fast as he (Hurricane Fly) wanted to go, anyway. I was struggling.

"It was the outside track, we didn't go mad early and they stepped up down the back to draw the sting out of us. It was a testing race.

"When I got more aggressive with him, he started to pick up and when I got on to AP's tail, he stuck his head down like he always does."

Walsh is confident Hurricane Fly had Jezki's measure when the latter made his mistake.

He said: "He gave me a brilliant jump at the last. Obviously Jezki stepped into it and missed it and that probably enhanced the margin we won by, but he's an incredible horse.

"I jumped the last well and going on past performances, he wasn't going to shirk the issue from there home.

"I thought I had it. It was unfortunate Jezki made the mistake, as without Jezki you wouldn't have the race.

"He's come back here now and won five of these (Irish Champion Hurdles) and 22 Grade Ones, he's a pleasure to ride, he's a credit to Willie and the staff at Closutton, he's just a marvellous little horse.

"This horse means a huge amount to me. I ride so many horses with potential but for horses to go and deliver and to go and repeat it and deliver - Kauto (Star) managed it, Big Buck's, it takes iron horses to do it and that's what they are, they're incredible horses and I'm just very lucky to have come along at a time when these good horses are around."

Walsh now faces an agonising decision come whether to ride Hurricane Fly once more at Cheltenham in March or partner his stable companion and Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen, and an 11th hour call is likely.

He said: "When the two of them are working well three days before the race, I'll make it then (declaration time)."

Jessica Harrington said of Jezki: "Tony said he was beaten going to the last. Hurricane Fly is very hard to beat around here but the main thing is that our horse is fine afterwards."

Champion Hurdle betting:

Hurricane Fly; 5/1 (from 10) Paddy Power, 7/1 (from 11) Betfair, 7/1 (from 10) Ladbrokes, 8/1 (from 12) BoyleSports.

Jezki: 5/1 (from 9/2) BoyleSports, 5/1 (from 9/2) Betfair, 5/1 (unchanged) Paddy Power, 6/1 (from 7/2) Ladbrokes.

Arctic Fire: 12/1 (from 20) Betfair, 14/1 (from 22) Paddy Power.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)