Jezki on course for another Leopardstown clash with Hurricane Fly

Trainer Jessica Harrington reports star hurdler came out well from Christmas meeting

Ruby Walsh, left, onboard Hurricane Fly clears the last hurdle ahead of Tony McCoy and  Jezki on the  way to winning the  Ryanair  Hurdle at Leopardstown. Photograph:  Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Ruby Walsh, left, onboard Hurricane Fly clears the last hurdle ahead of Tony McCoy and Jezki on the way to winning the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho

Jezki remains on course for another clash with great rival Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle back at Leopardstown on January 25th.

The latter narrowly outpointed Jessica Harrington’s stable star in a pulsating climax to the Ryanair Hurdle over the festive period, making the score between the pair four wins to two in favour of Hurricane Fly.

Willie Mullins’s incredible 11-year-old was retaining his unbeaten record at Leopardstown, but Harrington has taken plenty of heart from the fact the reigning Champion Hurdle winner pushed him all the way to the line.

The Co Kildare handler said: “Everything is good. He’s come out of the race at Christmas well and we’re happy with him.

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“He got closer to Hurricane Fly than he ever has before at Leopardstown, so we’ll take him on again at the end of the month.

“We’re happy with where we are and we’ll take things as they come.”