It’s party time in Crossgar

It’s party time in Crossgar

14 March 2013

THERE were celebrations in Crossgar on Tuesdasy night after Hurricane Fly flew like the wind to win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 13-8 favourite, part-owned by Crossgar woman Rose Boyd and ridden by Ruby Walsh, confounded the pundits by becoming only the second horse in history to regain the coveted crown of top hurdler.

The nine year-old won the the race in 2011, but was beaten into third when an odds-on favourite 12 months ago.

Supporters of the Willie Mullins-trained gelding would have been worried at halfway. But he began to pick up coming down the hill and was in the lead soon after jumping the second-last.

Hurricane Fly jumped the final flight smoothly and dug deep on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths. Last year’s winner Rock On Ruby was second, with Countrywide Flame third.

Walsh said: “I can’t say I was overly confident, from the word ‘go’ he didn’t travel as well as he can. He’s an unbelievably big heart for a small horse.”

Hurricane Fly arrived at Cheltenham with three runs already under his belt this season, with Mullins insisting he was far happier than 12 months ago.

He appeared to be struggling to go the gallop early on before coming back on the bridle coming down the hill.

Walsh said: “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.”