Patrick Mullins on why today can be the crowning glory for Hurricane Fly

HURRICANE FLY doesn’t have to win the Champion Hurdle today to convince anyone in the yard at home about his lasting greatness — he is already a legend of the turf. To win a record 19 Grade One races, including two Champion Hurdles, is a record which stands up to any scrutiny, even on this side of the Irish Sea where some folk have been slow, a times, to acknowledge his sustained excellence. The Fly looked a picture here yesterday, as did Cheltenham. The course was bathed in spring sunlight; the track was a lush green. All was quiet before the storm. It was in stark contrast to a year ago when black covers were in place and parts of the cross-country course were not race-worthy. Hurricane Fly knows where he is, what’s coming today, and he’s ready for battle. My father (right) thinks he’s as good as ever, if not better, which is a point no one should disregard if they fancy a bet. His critics look for holes but they miss the bigger picture. When The Fly was beaten here in 2012, he came into the race with a poor preparation and needed the race. On his return to the yard last summer, he had a belly full of grass, the sun was on his back and my father was able to get more work into him. That’s been reflected in his performances this season — three wins from three, including two defeats of Our Conor and Jezki. A part of me would love to see Danny Mullins win on Our Conor but I won’t desert The Fly. Can he do it? The underfoot conditions won’t be a problem; he has the Champion Hurdle experience — unlike his eight rivals — and has Ruby for guidance. All the props are in place. If The Fly wins a third Champion Hurdle today,

‘If The Fly wins, it would be the crowning moment of his career’ ‘It’s a worry Champagne Fever has only had two runs this season’

it would be pure magic, the crowning moment of his career. The first day of the Festival has been good to our yard in the past and we will be hoping that run continues with our eight runners, including three in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Vautour is a worthy flag-bearer. His defeat of The Tullow Tank at Leopardstown was a classy effort. His jumping is very slick and having Ruby on board is a plus. Wicklow Brave is a classy sort who needs to jump better. The quicker ground should help and I expect him to be in the front rank turning in. Valseur Lido could be anything. We’d have a better idea of his potential if he had another run this season. We won this race twice with relative outsiders, Ebaziyan and Tourist Attraction, Dad’s first Festival winner. Don’t rule out a third. Champagne Fever is our representative in the Arkle Chase. He knows every blade of grass of the track, having won here twice, and was one of our three winners on opening day last year, with Hurricane Fly and Quevega. It’s a worry he only has two runs this season and Trifolium could be the danger. There is a statue here of Golden Miller, the only horse to win the Gold Cup five times. What will Cheltenham do for Quevega, I wonder, if she wins the Mares’ Hurdle for the sixth Festival in a row? She has the gears, goes on the track and comes into her own at this time of the year. She’s already written history here and can script another chapter today. The Festival has given me special moments as a jockey and I’ll forever treasure my three winners, Cousin Vinny, Champagne Fever and Back In Focus, the same number as my father.