Hurricane Fly: “the intention is to run once we are happy with him”
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos), BY TONY O’HEHIR10:01AM 12 NOV 2012
CHAMPION HURDLE favourite Hurricane Fly is on schedule to make his eagerly awaited reappearance at Punchestown on Sunday in the Dobbins & Madigans Morgiana Hurdle, a race the eight-year-old missed in 2010 and again last year.
The multiple Grade 1 winner will be seeking a 12th victory at the top level in Sunday’s race, which will be his first start since he landed the Rabobank Champion Hurdle over the course in April, one month after losing his championship crown at Cheltenham where he finished third behind Rock On Ruby and Overturn in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.
Trainer Willie Mullins said on Sunday: “The Morgiana remains the plan for Hurricane Fly. He’s working away and the intention is to run once we are happy with him later in the week.”
Hurricane Fly, the 2011 Champion Hurdle winner, will be attempting to make it five wins from six starts at Punchestown, where he suffered one of his rare defeats when finishing third of four behind Solwhit in the same event three years ago.
The son of Montjeu, as short as 4-1 with Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, is one of six Mullins-trained entries for the Punchestown race.
The sextet includes Thousand Stars, winner of the race a year ago, Zaidpour and So Young, who missed the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday due to a temperature.
2:10 p.m. – Punchestown (IRE), SUN 18 NOV 2012
DOBBINS & MADIGANS @ PUNCHESTOWN MORGIANA HURDLE (GRADE 1) (4yo+)
2m Number of runners: 16
| NO. | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 552-35 | Blackstairmountain42  |
7 | 11-10 | W P Mullins | — | 110 | 136 | ||
| 85-231 | Captain Cee Bee42 |
11 | 11-10 | Edward P Harty | — | 150 | 160 | ||
| F821F3 | Fosters Cross28  |
10 | 11-10 | Thomas Mullins | — | 130 | 149 | ||
| 12110/ | Go Native20F  |
9 | 11-10 | Noel Meade | — | — | — | ||
| 121-94 | Hisaabaat8 |
4 | 11-7 | D K Weld | — | 130 | 149 | ||
| 1131- | Hurricane Fly205 |
8 | 11-10 | W P Mullins | — | 165 | 177 | ||
| P12314 | Miley Shah16 |
7 | 11-10 | J P Kenny | — | 120 | 148 | ||
| 1113-1 | Monksland16 |
5 | 11-10 | Noel Meade | — | 143 | 153 | ||
| 1-12 | Rule The World14 |
5 | 11-10 | M F Morris | — | 43 | 137 | ||
| 61119- | So Young248 |
6 | 11-10 | W P Mullins | — | 129 | 159 | ||
| 1/213- | Staying Article20F |
7 | 11-10 | E J O´Grady | — | 146 | 158 | ||
| 521/11 | Tarla31 |
6 | 11-3 | W P Mullins | — | 133 | 161 | ||
| 23-114 | Thousand Stars42 |
8 | 11-10 | W P Mullins | — | 147 | 169 | ||
| 4114- | Unaccompanied14F |
5 | 11-3 | D K Weld | — | 152 | 164 | ||
| 1222-2 | Voler La Vedette7  |
8 | 11-3 | C A Murphy | — | 163 | 174 | ||
| 182-25 | Zaidpour161 |
6 | 11-10 | W P Mullins | — | 156 | 170 | ||
