So easy for Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown

Hurricane Fly (left)

If the first day of Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting highlighted a potential Irish star for the major prizes this season, when Pandorama won the Lexus Chase, then the second day simply underlined those who have already achieved that status.

Hurricane Fly has yet to run at Cheltenham, robbed of the chance for the past two seasons due to injury, and Willie Mullins might be tempted to buy every scrap of cotton wool that he can lay his hands upon to protect this horse between now and the Champion Hurdle after Hurricane Fly cruised home in the Grade One paddypower.com iPhone App Festival Hurdle.

The balance of power in Champion Hurdle, which had been so heavily weighted in favour of the Irish four years ago, has swung with almost pendulum force in the direction of British-trained runners since. But Hurricane Fly put himself firmly into the mix with this performance.

Luska Lad was still in the lead at the home turn with Hurricane Fly tracking alongside old adversary Solwhit. The score between Hurricane Fly and Solwhit stood at 2-1, but only for another two furlongs. Paul Townend played it slightly cute, ensuring that Davy Russell was boxed in behind Luska Lad on Solwhit coming to the final flight. It was hardly needed as Hurricane Fly eased two-and-a-half lengths clear of Solwhit.

“I might give him two runs before March,” Mullins said. “I’m just going to play it by ear – see how he comes out of that. The Irish [Champion Hurdle] would be the obvious one and then we’ll see about another run after that.”

There was the distinct sound of bubbles bursting when First Lieutenant won the Grade One paddypowerpoker.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle. Zaidpour was fully expected to retain his unbeaten record following fluent victories in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown and the Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse two weeks ago.

It may well be that this race, just a fortnight previously, may have taken its toll but it would be wrong to dismiss the winner’s performance out of hand because of it. Mouse Morris, the trainer of First Lieutenant, said that his horse would be better over further than two miles and “10 times better over fences” but Mullins was minded to simply forget the race.

Townend was sitting out of his ground a little on Zaidpour and did not look that comfortable as the pace picked up from the second-last. Turning into the home straight Zaidpour had both Hidden Cyclone, who had led from the start, and First Lieutenant in his sights but did not look capable of making up the ground as easily as he had done when he won the Royal Bond. He was not that far behind jumping the last but could still not get to grips with First Lieutenant who won by a neck with Hidden Cyclone in third.

“He’s a four-year-old in against older horses, he looked dead from the start and I was just hoping his class might pull him through,” Mullins said. “But I’m happy enough; we were hard enough on him. He’s had two runs in the last month and, coming out here again today, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was just a bit over the top. He was never himself today – he never picked up the bridle so I think it’s not his performance.”

Barry Geraghty’s judgement proved spot-on when he rode Big Zeb in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase. Geraghty elected to stay in Ireland to keep the partnership with the reigning two-mile champion chaser rather than ride for Nicky Henderson at Newbury, but he had to work for the win.

Master Minded proved that he still sets the benchmark for the division after his pulverising victory in the Tingle Creek Chase at Cheltenham three weeks ago but Big Zeb’s performance here indicated that the Paul Nicholls horse will not have it that easy when they meet again in March.

Scotsirish set the gallop but Big Zeb took himself upsides with a marvellous jump two fences from home. He was almost as good at the last but the Geraghty had to get busy as Big Zeb began to idle on the run-in and needed plenty of driving to beat Golden Silver by one-and-three-quarter lengths. The disappointment of the race was Captain Cee Bee, who was last of the four runners throughout and never looked like playing a real part.

Paul Wheeler

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