Fly makes history to give Ruby a Cheltenham poser

HURRICANE FLY created history with an emotional fifth win in the Irish Champion Hurdle yesterday and left jockey Ruby Walsh facing one of the toughest calls of his career.

The Fly’s three- and- a- half length success (right) from stablemate Arctic Fire was his 22nd at Grade One level and his 10th in as many starts at Leopardstown.

The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year- old has now won one more Irish Champion Hurdle than the great Istabraq and will head to Cheltenham in March in search of a third British Champion Hurdle as the 7-1 fourth favourite with William Hill. The head-scratcher for Walsh is that stablemate Faugheen, effortless winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and first in all of his eight starts, is evens favourite for that race.

Walsh, who would only say he will leave the decision as late as possible before the big race on March 10, confirmed he had been in trouble four hurdles out yesterday. But the battling qualities of The Fly then came to the fore, while big rival and ultimate third, the AP McCoyridden Jezki, made an error at the last which halted the threat. Walsh said: ‘I was struggling but when I saw AP go for the whip I knew I had him covered. This horse means a huge amount to me. I ride so many horses with potential but for horses to go and deliver and repeat it — Kauto Star managed it, and Big Buck’s — it takes iron horses to do it.’

Mullins and Walsh continue to build a formidable team for Cheltenham. Yesterday’s easy Arkle Chase winner Un De Sceaux is now odds- on with some bookmakers for the Festival equivalent after brushing aside Clarcam and Gilgamboa.

The pair’s other Cheltenham favourites include Douvan ( Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Annie Power (OLBG Hurdle), Don Poli (National Hunt Chase) and Vautour ( JLT Novices’ Chase).

Worryingly for rivals of Un De Sceaux, Mullins warned: ‘He’s a bit stronger this year, but is not down to his best racing weight yet. Hopefully on better ground he’ll jump faster.’