Hurricane lands Rabobank hat-trick

Hurricane Fly bounced back to winning ways to make it three-in-a-row in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The 4/11 favourite had to work to land the spoils, however, going away after the last to record a three-and-a-half length success.

Ruby Walsh settled his mount behind the leaders in the early stages before taking closer order turning for home.

Front-runner Thousand Stars gave way to Zaidpour entering the straight before Hurricane Fly hit the front going to the last when popped the question.

Walsh had to keep the former champion up to his work on the run-in as he racked up his 12th victory for the yard.

Both Mullins and Walsh admitted afterwards that the star hurdler had won without being at his best.

"He wasn't impressive going past the winning post first time and just his class won the race for him," said Mullins afterwards.

"Ruby thought he would be in better form going to the third last but he wasn't. Once he pulled him out and sent him about his job he did it though.

"The ground was real tacky and maybe he doesn't like that now. As they get older horses get a preference for ground.

"We'll see where we go from here. We'll probably put him away now. He just had an off day in Cheltenham.

"He only did enough today. Maybe next year we'll ride him like a normal horse as he's always been very keen and we've been trying to settle him.

"He settled at Leopardstown in January but he settled too much at Cheltenham. My job now is to try and get the Champion Hurdle back.

"Zaidpour ran a cracker and I thought he was going to cause an upset but he just got done for a bit of speed. He could go to France as could Thousand Stars."

Ruby Walsh admitted afterwards to being relieved with the result:-

"I was never happy. Half way down the back I was kind of thinking 'I wouldn't mind being on Zaidpour'.

"Pure raw ability and guts has won it for him. I wouldn't say he's anywhere near the horse that won in Leopardstown - he was more like the horse that ran in Cheltenham to be honest.

"He was lethargic in Cheltenham and was lethargic again today.

"When horses run as flat as he did today they don't win unless they are exceptional.

"He got caught out in Cheltenham but he won today and with a summers grass and freshen up he'll be the horse we saw last year next year."

Stan James shortened the winner to 5/1 favourite from 6/1 for next year's Champion Hurdle while Paddy Power are unchanged at 11/2.

(GC & TW)