Wrong Turn (left) and Ruby Walsh © Photo Healy Racing
< Hurricane Fly displayed courage to match his class as he pulled out the stops to win a fourth consecutive BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Ruby Walsh sat in second as the veteran Captain Cee Bee led the way in the Grade One contest, and though Willie Mullins' superstar (4-7 favourite) took over at the top of the straight, he had all the other three runners breathing down his neck.< Our Conor threw down a strong challenge at the final flight but Hurricane Fly, who wasn't quite as fluent, found plenty on the run-in to go a length and a half clear and land his 19th success at the top level. Captain Cee Bee finished third.
Walsh rode four winners on the card, teaming up with Mullins to land the Grade Two Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle after an extraordinary display by the talented Sure Reef (9-4 joint-favourite).
The five-year-old looked beaten when he dropped away to be last turning for home, but he started to motor down the outside in the straight and jumped the final flight in third place before overhauling Moonshine Lad to win by three-quarters of a length.
Walsh initiated his four-timer when Tony Martin's 6-1 shot Quickpick Vic demolished the opposition in the Leopardstown Sports Lounge Maiden Hurdle, leading all the way and stretching clear to score by nine and a half lengths.
He also won for Martin on Wrong Turn in the Leopardstown Racecourse Handicap Chase, getting a great tune out of the 9-4 favourite after the last fence to nail the gallant top-weight Tabhachtach right on the line for a head victory.
Gigginstown House Stud's new number one jockey Bryan Cooper got it right when his choice of mount Trifolium turned in a superb performance to win the day's other Grade One race, the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.
Charles Byrnes' 7-1 chance travelled well in second spot and when favourite Defy Logic began to backpedal, he took charge to beat Felix Yonger by nine lengths. Mozoltov rejected by Cooper, finished third.
