Hurricane Fly vs Jezki, round 7

A fascinating race is in prospect for the Irish Champion Hurdle this afternoon at 15.45 CET at Leopardstown, which sees the two best hurdlers in training, Hurricane Fly (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) and Jezki (Jessica Harrington/ Tony McCoy) face each other for the seventh time in just over a year. Jezki won the championship races at Cheltenham and Punchestown, but otherwise the Fly has won 4 of these matches and is the likely favourite today. He is unbeaten in 9 races here, including this race for the past 4 years, and in all has won 21 Grade One races, an amazing record. This race is almost a rerun of the Ryanair Hurdle over this CD 4 weeks ago, in which Hurricane Fly defeated Jezki half a length, with German-bred Arctic Fire (Mullins/ Paul Townend) a close third, Plinth (Aidan O´Brien/ Robbie Power) fourth and Tiger Roll (Gordon Elliott/ Bryan Cooper) fifth. The only one of today´s runners not in that field is Fiscal Focus (Des McDonough/ Mikey Fogarty), who as a 4yo receives lots of weight from the others. He won his only start in good style and was a useful horse on the flat, but it is hard to imagine a 4yo with so little experience troubling the big two. Hurricane Fly seems as good as ever at the age of11, but he needs really soft ground these days, and Jezki could possibly turn the tables this time, while Mullins has stated that he expects Arctic Fire, a son of Soldier Hollow out of a Sternkönig mare, to run a big race. It will be a tactical affair, with Plnth probably setting the pace for his owner´s Jezki, and if the ground continues to dry out, we expect Jezki to win, with Arctic Fire a very interesting alternative, but we shall be equally delighted to see Hurricane Fly win again and improve his already fantastic record.

Two other graded races on the card could make this a red letter day for Willie Mullins, whih mkight win all three. His exciting Un De Sceaux (Waölsh) should win the novice chase at 14.40, but this headstrong character is always capable of being his own worst enemy, and possibly Clarcam (Elliott/ Cooper) can take advantage of his weight allowance, while the unbeaten Gilgamboa (EndaBolger/ McCoyxy) is also not oiut of it. In the novice hurdle at 16.15 Mullins saddles 3 of the 8 runners, with Walsh on Killultagh Vic, but No More Heroes (Elliott/ Cooper) is the form horse here, while Windsor Park (Dermot Weld/ Davy Russell) is a danger to all.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Uncle Danny - Utmost Zeal - Gladiator King
2. Race: Un De Sceaux - Gilgamboa - Clarcam
3. Race: Champagne James - Golden Ticket - Paddy O Dee
4. Race: Hurricane Fly - Jezki - Arctic Fire
5. Race: No More Heroes - Windsor Park - Killultagh Vic
6. Race: Heathfield - Down Under - Kilcrea
7. Race: Fugi Mountain - Robin Thyme - Catalaunian Fields