Hurricane Fly 'best of all time'

Hurricane Fly put his young pretenders in their place in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle as he jumped the last well and battled home to win by two and a half lengths. Jezki and Tony McCoy tried to find a route between front-runner Captain Cee Bee and Our Conor coming to the last, but he wasn’t able to navigate a way through. This shuffled Jezki back to fourth and he switched out jumping the last. However, 11/10 favourite Hurricane Fly on the outside jumped the last in the lead and was kept up to his work by Ruby Walsh on the run-in.

Jezki (15/8 from 9/4) finished well to take second from Our Conor (3/1) by three and a quarter lengths. Hurricane Fly is now 20 from 23 over hurdles and this was his 18th victory at Grade 1 level.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: “It was a hugely tactical race. Ruby was very cool on him. I thought they had left the horse in front too long. He flew the last and Ruby said he was idling in front. He’s improving all the time. That race will bring him on a bit and he’ll be back here for the champion hurdle.

“He’s settling you see and you can ride him differently. We just changed his work from before Punchestown as Ruby is afraid of him falling asleep in races. It was such a muddling pace, but he was alive for the whole race today apart from when he got to the front. We are lucky enough to buy lots of horses every year and we’re looking to buy the replacement for this guy but we just can’t find him.”

Ruby Walsh said: “He’s a great little horse. It was great the reception he got from the crowd, they appreciated him today. They (Our Conor and Jezki) were the big pretenders. He’s a wonderful little horse, he’s a great horse to ride. I’d say he’s the best of all time. He’s won two champion hurdles and if things had been different he might have won a third.

“It did get a bit tactical. Danny with his experience on the flat closed the door on AP. I was hoping AP wasn’t going to come round the outside and do me. He’s a great jumper and has loads of speed and stamina. Everything about him is a bit special.”

Jessica Harrington said of Jezki: "A stronger run race would have suited him. going to the last it looked like he would be a bad third and he ended up being a good second, but if you are going to get beaten you get beaten by a champion. He's only five and I'm delighted with him."

Tony McCoy who rode Jezki said: “From the second last I got done for a bit of toe and I couldn’t get out and then he stayed on and he ran on past Our Conor. If I had got out I might have given Hurricane Fly a bit of a lead. In fairness to Hurricane Fly he came round us on the bridle.

“Hurricane Fly is a very good horse. The way Jezki stayed on there’s hope, there’s always hope. I know Hurricane Fly is probably better here than anywhere else, but the others have to progress. He keeps winning, you can knock him all you like but he keeps winning and it’ll take a fair horse to beat him the way he came round the bend on the bridle.”

Of Our Conor Dessie Hughes reported: "I felt coming here if he got within a few lengths it would be a good run. It's his first run over hurdles for eight months and the first time he's been up against older horses. I'm very happy with him and I think he'll come on for it."

Our Conor's jockey Danny Mullins reported: “He wasn’t that free, he turned his head around a little bit. A good run, he went to the last with Hurricane Fly who had the benefit of a run. There's a bit of improvement still there so we won’t lose faith yet. He’s only a four-year-old and will get stronger and I’d be happy enough with that. If all three get to the Irish Champion Hurdle it will be a great race again.”

Boylesports cut Hurricane Fly to 4/1 from 6/1 for the Champion Hurdle. They also slashed Jezki from 9/1 to 6/1 while Our Conor was pushed out to 9s from 6s. They have My Tent Or Yours and The New One as their 3/1 joint favourites.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power also have Hurricane Fly at 4/1 from 6/1. They cut Jezki to 5/1 from 8s and eased Our Conor out to 6/1 from 5s.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee