Hurricane to Fly high once again

By Alan Conway

This week’s action at Punchestown sees the conclusion of what has been a memorable National Hunt season with the final major highlight being the Rabobank Champion Hurdle taking place on Friday evening.

The race will see the rematch from Cheltenham of Hurricane Fly and Menorah with the 2010 Champion Hurdler Binocular adding an intriguing extra element to the race. Hurricane Fly is expected to go off a warm order to round off his season unbeaten.

His finest hour was unquestionably when he sprinted away from Peddlers Cross, Oscar Whisky and the rest to land the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. It was the first time the Cheltenham crowd has witnessed Hurricane Fly in the flesh and they had to have been impressed with what they saw.

In a race where he pulled hard and refused to spit the bit out for Ruby Walsh Hurricane Fly still had enough left at the end of the race to quicken past and fend off Peddlers Cross and claim victory.

Looking back on the race what really impressed about Hurricane Fly was the speed and the accuracy with which he attacked his hurdles. He was like Istabraq in that sense and he is so economical over his flights that he rarely loses his position during a race.

Combined with the fact that he has an instant turn of foot I couldn’t believe that I was able to get a price of 3-1 on the day of the race. He also vindicated all the belief that his connections had shown in him during the time when injury prevented him making it to Cheltenham.

Looking ahead to Friday’s clash with Menorah and Binocular I cannot see why Hurricane Fly won’t come out on top. Granted Menorah and Binocular are top class horses in their own right but everything has run smooth for the Hurricane this season and he comes into this race right on top of his game.

Menorah disappointed at Cheltenham and although excuse came out after the race it is hardly the ideal preparation for this race. I can see Menorah travelling well throughout the race but just been tapped for toe or fitness when the race begins to develop in earnest. That’s not to say he won’t run a big race.

Binocular continues to perplex. On his day he is brilliant but on more than a few occasions he has disappointed. The controversy of why he missed the Champion Hurdle has already been poured over long enough but allowing for that his run at Aintree was worse than could have been anticipated.

It’s too early to start writing Binocular off and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him put it up to Hurricane Fly. I just feel, deep down, that no matter what Menorah, Binocular and the rest do the Hurricane will be far too strong for them. I said a few months ago that if he stayed injury free Hurricane Fly could mature into a Champion Hurdler. I will be happy on Friday night if I see the coronation of a champion. I fully expect to see it.

By Alan Conway