Hurricane Fly ‘can create history’

RUBY Walsh sees no reason why Hurricane Fly cannot live up to his name and become the first horse in more than 35 years to regain the Stan James Champion Hurdle crown a week today.

The most successful rider in Cheltenham Festival history, the mercurial Walsh believes that the Willie Mullins-trained hurdler has not received sufficient credit for his 14 Grade One wins.

Well-beaten by Rock On Ruby in last year’s contest, Hurricane Fly has won each of his three starts this term – including the Irish Champion Hurdle on his last outing.

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All three contests have been in relatively small fields, prompting some to suggest that the favourite will not handle the hurly burly of Cheltenham.

“Last year didn’t go to plan, but the whole season didn’t,” said phlegmatic Walsh, who is confident of matching the feat of Fred Rimell’s Comedy Of Errors who prevailed in both 1973 and 1975.

“He’s a really good horse, but has only shown his true colours in the UK once when he won in 2011. He’s bidding for a place in history and I’d love him to show them again.

“There’s nothing about Cheltenham that doesn’t suit him, it was just circumstances last year. It was a difficult year for him and he’s in a much better place this year.

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“You can only beat what is put in front of you. There’s different things horses do that impress you.

“It won’t be that straightforward in the Champion Hurdle, but he’s a cracking little horse. He has pace, he has stamina, he’s slick and he has what you need.

“He’s more relaxed these days and Willie can do exactly what he wants when he’s training him.

“Of course I’d be disappointed if he didn’t win.”

In other Festival news, Cheltenham’s leading trainer Nicky Henderson described Simonsig’s latest piece of work as “simply fantastic” ahead of his Arkle Trophy clash with Overturn.

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The workout took place at Henderson’s Lambourn stables after heavy overnight frost scuppered an intended racecourse gallop at Newbury for the second successive day.

“It’s been a bit frustrating, but just about everything has been done now. Simonsig was simply fantastic, he was some sight in full flow,” said the upbeat trainer.

David Pipe has still not decided whether to run his unbeaten novice chaser Dynaste in the RSA Chase or the Jewson Novices’ Chase.

He has been ante-post favourite for the three-mile RSA for most of the season and proved his stamina with a devastating display in the Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

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There has been speculation that Dynaste will line up in the less prestigious Jewson over two miles and five furlongs after stablemate Grands Crus failed to see out the RSA trip 12 months ago.

“Despite speculation to the contrary, there has still been no decision made about Dynaste’s target,” Pipe tweeted.

However, Dynaste’s jockey Tom Scudamore is unperturbed. “David’s just keeping his options open and, as we’ve seen recently, the ground can change very quickly,” he said.

“It’s drying out now, but with a deluge of rain it could change. We do know that whatever race he goes for he’s going to be hard to beat on what he has shown so far this season.

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“He seems in great form and whatever race he runs in he will be my best ride of the Festival. He’s won over two and a half and he’s got Grade One form over three miles. I wouldn’t want to be getting off him.”

Scudamore’s great friend and rival Nick Scholfield plans to be back in action at Wincanton on Thursday after escaping serious injury in a fall at Newbury.

The jockey got the all-clear after going to hospital for checks following his spill from Micheal Flips at the eighth fence in the Greatwood Gold Cup on Saturday.

“I’m not too bad. I went to hospital for checks and they were fine so that was good,” he said.

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“I’ll be back towards the end of the week, probably Wincanton on Thursday. The aim is obviously to be right for Cheltenham.”

Scholfield enjoyed success at the Festival last year when partnering Hunt Ball to victory in the Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Handicap Chase.

He is looking forward to teaming up with owner Anthony Knott’s gelding in the Byrne Group Plate on Thursday week.

“I spoke to Keiran (Burke, trainer) on Sunday and he said Hunt Ball was in great form and he was really happy with him, so I’m looking forward to him as well,” he said.

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Scholfield also has two good mounts for trainer Jeremy Scott – Melodic Rendezvous in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle that opens the meeting a week today and Empiracle in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper the following day.

“I’m very excited about both Jeremy Scott’s horses. They tell me both are in good order,” he said.

Frankel has had his first mare scanned in foal at Juddmonte Farms’ Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket.

The mare in question is the former David Wachman-trained Chrysanthemum, a dual Group Three winner and third in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in 2011.

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Frankel, who retired at the end of last season undefeated after 14 races and became the highest-rated horse in the world, has an outstanding book of mares in his first season as a stallion.

Bated Breath, also owned by Khalid Abdullah, has had his first mare tested in foal – Pretty Primo, a winning half-sister to Group One winner Wootton Bassett.

“Both horses are proving to be very professional and it is always good to get their first mare tested in foal,” said stud general manager Philip Mitchell.

Award winner Bennett hailed as an inspiration by Scott

JOCK Bennett, a stalwart of Yorkshire racing, was named employee of the year at the ninth annual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards Ceremony.

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Mark Johnston’s assistant trainer was presented with the perpetual Godolphin Trophy by presenter Clare Balding and special guest presenter Richard Hughes, the champion jockey.

He was also presented with a cheque for £30,000, of which £15,000 will be shared among the staff at the Johnston yard in Middleham.

Bennett worked for Bill Watts for over two decades, travelling to the US in 1985 with Teleprompter who landed the prestigious Arlington Million.

Upon Watts’s retirement in 1997, he teamed up with Johnston, initially as a yardman before taking up the role of assistant trainer.

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Brough Scott, the widely-respected racing journalist who chaired the judging panel, said: “Jock Bennett should be an inspiration, not just for racing but for life itself.

“He links old-fashioned values with ground breaking ways without ever losing the thrill that lifted him from the beginning.”

The significance of Bennett’s award can be measured by the fact that last year’s recipient was Clifford Baker, the man who oversaw the day-to-day training of the legendary Kauto Star – the now retired dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner – at the stables of Paul Nicholls.

Runner-up in the newcomers’ category was Jack Teal, a stable lad at Malcolm Jefferson’s flourishing yard near Malton.