Big-hearted Hurricane Fly turns on style to land historic triumph

The second leg of a momentous 27-1 treble for jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins, this was a career-best victory that needs to be placed in wider context.

It was the 15th Grade One win of Hurricane Fly’s career, just one shy of the number of races that the much-celebrated Kauto Star won at the very highest level.

The mercurial Walsh had expressed surprise at those who doubted Hurricane Fly’s ability after the 2011 champion’s lacklustre defeat 12 months ago and his judgment was vindicated when the Irish raider produced a career-best performance.

Once the tapes went up, last year’s champion Rock On Ruby was sent into the lead in the first-time blinkers, closely tracked by the menacing Zarkandar and Countrywide Flame who benefitted from an inspired ride by Denis O’Regan.

Though Hurricane Fly needed cajoling at the midway point of the race, he reeled in the pacesetters after Grandouet and Barry Geraghty parted company.

He began to pick up coming down the hill and was in the lead soon after jumping the second-last.

Hurricane Fly negotiated the 
final flight smoothly and dug deep on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.

Rock On Ruby ran a tremendous race to finish second in defence of his crown, while last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero Countrywide Flame ran a blinder in third.

As he returned to the fabled winner’s enclosure, and chants of ‘Ruby, Ruby, Ruby’ which warmed the soul on a perishingly cold day, Walsh said: “I can’t say I was overly confident – from the word ‘go’ he didn’t travel as well as he can.

“He has an unbelievably big heart for a small horse. He made a mistake or two, but he’s as tough as nails.

“I was in front a good two furlongs too soon. He pinged the last and I’m glad he got it back to show everyone he’s a true champion hurdler.”

Victorious 12 months ago, Rock On Ruby lost nothing in defeat. His young trainer Harry Fry said: “We’ve gone out there and served it up to them and just got beaten by a true champion and a better horse on the day.”

It was a view shared by Malton-based John Quinn, who was quick to put the quality of the race into historical perspective.

“You had three Champion Hurdle winners, two Triumph Hurdle winners and a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner – this was a really good renewal,” said a philosophical Quinn, who drew comfort from the quality of horses that finished out of the first three.

“If he’s okay he could go for the two-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree and if he’s okay after that I’ll think about the Chester Cup. If he’s okay he’ll run and if he comes back and tells us he needs a break he’ll have a break. He’s as tough as boots and doesn’t know when he’s beaten.”

To many, Countrywide Flame’s performance was the most striking of the race. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero is only five and his best years are still ahead of him.

That said, O’Regan suggested afterwards that this dual-purpose warrior could be better suited by a step up in trip to three miles next season for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Another factor will be the race plans for Champagne Fever and My Tent Or Yours, who fought out a compelling finish to the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the traditional Cheltenham curtain-raiser and which was greeted by the customary roar of the crowd as the tapes went up after a 35- minute delay while the frost covers were taken off the track.

This was a Walsh masterclass as he led from pillar to post on last year’s Bumper winner. He just had enough in hand to deny his great rival Tony McCoy, who was travelling with ominous ease on the heavily-backed My Tent Or Yours.

Walsh said: “I didn’t ride him at work last week but I was watching him work at the Curragh with Willie and we both kind of looked at each other. It was scintillating. Patrick (Mullins, trainer’s son) has always maintained he was a two-miler and an out-and-out galloper – he was dead right.

“He wasn’t doing a whole lot in front, but I knew AP (McCoy) was coming to me as I could feel the crowd revving up. But, in fairness, when AP got to him, he stuck his head down and away he went again.”

Consolation soon came for Nicky Henderson, trainer of My Tent Or Yours, when Simonsig landed the odds in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy under Barry Geraghty.

However, it was harder work for the 8-15 favourite than many expected. Despite making a jumping error heading down the back straight, the seven-year-old 
Simonsig was still cruising heading down the hill and was left in front after Donald McCain’s Overturn blundered his way over the third-last.

The 33-1 shot Baily Green tracked him into the straight, but Simonsig found enough after the final fence to seal a two-and-a-quarter-length triumph and maintain his unbeaten record over fences.

Henderson completed a double when Rajdhani Express took the finale under amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen who became a father for the first time at the weekend.

But, on this form, Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins will be the men to beat for the next three days. On this form, they are close to being unstoppable.