SPARKS WILL FLY
But Mullins’ Hurricane may be in for dogfight
THE three mai n heavyweights of Irish hurdle racing — Hurricane Fly, Jezki and Our Conor — clash again in the eagerlyanticipated Grade One €110,000 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopards town tomorrow.
When the trio met in the Ryanair Hurdle at the same track last month, Hurricane Fly delivered the big knockout blows, winning from Jezki and Our Conor in that order.
But the same result is not guaranteed tomorrow. Jezki had not the clearest of passages the last day and Our Conor will have come on a lot for what is just his second run of the season over hurdles tomorrow.
To many eyes, Hurricane Fly looks bombproof. But any horse can have an off day. The 10- year- old’s preparation suffered a minor setback earlier this week and with Jezki and Our Conor back for more, trainer Willie Mullins admits his superstar will have to be right on his game with Ruby Walsh if he is to make it eight wins from as many starts at the Foxrock track this weekend.
‘He worked poorly during the week and it turned out he had a bruise on his foot. He seems fine since, so we’ll see how he goes,’ said Mullins.
‘We could have taken the easy way out and not run, but at the end of the day it’s the Irish Champion Hurdle.
‘Sometimes athletes carry bits of i njuries i nto games and we’re happy to let him take his chance.’
Of course we should not disrespect Captain Cee Bee, who completes the line-up. The 13-year-old will probably have to make a strong gallop — as was the case in the Ryanair — in a bid to wreck Hurricane Fly’s speed and bring Jezki’s stamina into play. But let it not be forgotten that Edward Harty’s charge is a former winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and other important races. Even at the veteran stage, he looked a possible surprise winner for a l ong time during the Ryanair. None of this will be lost on Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy and Danny Mullins, the riders of the big three; they will keep closer tabs this time on Mark Walsh’s mount.
But they will also be watching each other like hawks in what will surely be a race in which tactics are certain to play a big and possibly a crucial part.
Mullins and Mark Walsh, partners of Our Conor and Captain Cee Bee respectively, will have to concede that McCoy, who rides Jezki, and Ruby Walsh on Hurricane Fly, have vastly more experience than them i n top- l evel contests.
On the other hand, the two younger jockeys are as talented as they come and no one would argue that they are likely to be found wanting if their steeds are good enough on the day.
In the heel of the hunt it is safe to assume that this wil prove one of the best races of the season and that the Leopardstown stand will be packed for the occasion.
Regarding the outcome of the race, I will stick with Hurricane Fly to keep on his merry winning way for Mullins and connections.
Meanwhile, Paul Nolan’s Defy Logic gets the nod in the Grade One €80,000 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Chase, the other big race on tomorrow’s card.
The JP McManus-owned runner underlined his undoubted class when scoring in the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase here at Christmas and is preferred to the Mullins-trained duo Felix Yonger and Mozoltov .
Dermot Weld’s Stuccodor gets the nod for the opening maiden hurdle. This fellow had a great record on the Flat and his run over hurdles here last month suggested that he will make into a decent hurdler as well.
The f orm of that Christmas event, won by Western Boy and in which Stuccodor finished fifth, is working out well in so far as the second and third horses home, Kylestyle and Daneking, have both won since.
Also, Western Boy did the form no harm when only narrowly beaten by Vautour at Punchestown. However Our Conor fares for rider Danny Mullins and owner Barry Connell in the big race, the partnership’s Double Irish, a most impressive maiden hurdle winner, can go close in the Grade Two Synergy Solutions Novice Hurdle.