Frankel last Saturday, St Nicholas Abbey today and now another grand-son of the legendary recently deceased Sadler's Wells, Hurricane Fly lit up the racing world with an incredible display of hurdling, speed and stamina to storm home in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown under Ruby Walsh.
Ridden with maximum confidence, the Champion Hurdler arrived cantering all over his two main rivals, Menorah and Binocular entering the straight and in a matter of strides the contest was over. Hurricane Fly cleared the last brilliantly and powered away in the manner of an all-time great to slam his game stable companion Thousand Stars (Katie Walsh up) by five lengths.
Walsh said: "He is a little aeroplane. The parades like the one before the race at Cheltenham have made a man out of him and he is more relaxed now. Gail (Carlisle), Aaron (Madden) and Paul (Townend) have been the making of him at home as he is a quirky little sort.
"He is a professional little jumper and he is by far the best hurdler I've ever ridden. He is an incredible little horse."
Winning trainer Willie Mullins ruled out a trip for the French Champion Hurdle and he said: "We were on home ground today and he was fantastic. What can I say – he was awesome.
"Thousand Stars might go to France as he seems to thrive on racing and he could go and run on the flat over the summer as well."
Ladbrokes go 7/4 (from 5/2) about Hurricane Fly for the 2012 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle whilst Boylesports go 7/4 (from 7/2) about the same horse for the same race.
