HOW MANY OF you are happy with his one?
Hurricane Fly regained his Champion Hurdle crown this afternoon under Ruby Walsh on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival..
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding battled into the lead soon after jumping the second-last and dug deep to come home by two-and-a-half lengths.
Rock On Ruby — last year’s winner — was second, with Countrywide Flame third.
“I can’t say I was overly confident,” said Walsh afterwards, “from the word ‘go’ he didn’t travel as well as he can. He’s 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.”
Hurricane Fly is the the first horse to regain the Champion Hurdle since Comedy Of Errors in 1975.
