Racing

Hurricane Fly up against small field in bid for record at Leopardstown

Willie Mullins’s ace performer to attempt to win Irish Champion Hurdle for fifth time

Hurricane Fly (left) ridden by Ruby Walsh alongside Jezki and Tony McCoy before winning the Ryanair Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas festival. Photograph: PA Wire
Hurricane Fly (left) ridden by Ruby Walsh alongside Jezki and Tony McCoy before winning the Ryanair Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas festival. Photograph: PA Wire
Tue Jan 06 2015 - 01:00

Hurricane Fly has frightened away most of the opposition as only eight horses have been entered for the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 25th.

Willie Mullins’s ace performer is set to attempt to make history as the first horse to win the race for a fifth time.

Having already amassed a record 21 Grade One successes, Hurricane Fly is tied with Istabraq (1998-2001) on four wins in the two-mile contest, and has an unbeaten record of nine victories at the course.

Jezki, trained by Jessica Harrington, is set to provide the stiffest competition once again after the pair served up a thrilling finish to the Grade One Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, in which Hurricane Fly prevailed by half a length.

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Hurricane Fly's trainer Willie Mullins has also entered Ryanair Hurdle third Arctic Fire, plus Kempton's Christmas Hurdle winner Faugheen, as well as Diakali.

Des McDonogh won the race with Herbert United way back in 1986 and the Co Meath trainer has given an entry to the four-year-old Fiscal Focus.

The Intense Focus colt, bred and formerly trained by Jim Bolger, made a successful debut over hurdles on this track on Boxing Day.

“You never know. There’s not too many entered as it is at the moment. We’ll just see nearer the time,” said McDonogh.“I was delighted with him at Leopardstown. He’s a very good horse, but he wants soft ground.”

Line-up

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Plinth and last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll, who is trained by

Gordon Elliott

, complete the line-up.

A classy field looks assured for the Frank Ward Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase with 10 entries for the Leopardstown event on January 25th.

Elliott’s Clarcam is already a Grade One scorer over fences after taking advantage of a blunder by Vautour in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Christmas and will be looking to add to his tally.

The Willie Mullins-trained Vautour had previously made a foot-perfect debut over fences and he could try to avenge his festive defeat.

Mullins has also entered the hugely-exciting Un De Sceaux, Grade One winner Valseur Lido and Adriana Des Mottes.

Enda Bolger’s classy Limerick winner Gilgamboa has the option, as does the Mouse Morris-trained duo of Real Steel and Band Of Blood.

Noel Meade’s classy Apache Stronghold and Matthew Smith’s Rawnaq are also engaged.

Martin Brassil hopes to prepare Double Seven for the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National after he was ruled out for the season due to injury.

The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old won five races in a row last season, including the Munster National at Limerick, and was well fancied for the Aintree showpiece last April.

Ridden by Tony McCoy for just the second time, the 10-1 joint-favourite ran a brave race to finished third, beaten just over six lengths by Pineau De Re, and was high up in the ante-post lists to go two places better.

“He’s out for the season, unfortunately,” said Brassil.

Young enough

“We’re very hopeful that we’ll be able to get him back in (training) next season and go back to Aintree again, though. He’s young enough to go back, and he’s on a rating now where Aintree has to be on your mind, especially as he ran so well last year. It’s a shame he won’t be there this year but, with a bit of luck, he’ll be back there again.”