By Vinny Grennan
Hurricane Fly was the star attraction on today's card as he very
impressively won the Irish Champion Hurdle for the third year in a row
at very prohibitive odds of 1/6 fav. The weather turned really nasty as
the Foxrock venue was battered by atrocious weather conditions as wind,
snow and sleet arrived just before the start of the race but that didn't
deter the 2010 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner putting a breathtaking
performance and stamp himself as a serious contender to regain his
throne in March. Thousand stars set out to make all and jumping the
third last Ruby Walsh crept a little closer on the favourite and as they
turned for home he was sent on effortlessly to open up a six length
lead over his stable mate heading to the last. Tony McCoy aboard 2011
champion hurdle winner Binocular attempted to close at this point but
the heavy underfoot conditions took it's toll and he was quickly under
pressure. A very tidy jump at the last from the Fly saw him canter up to
the line to land the spoils with his stablemate Thousand Stars running a
very gallant race to hold of Binocular for second. After the race
winning trainer Willie Mullins told reporters that " Ruby said he's as
good ever he saw him. He gave him a squeeze turning off the last bend
and he said it was like he jumped in. I've had faith in him all year and
he seems to be in the sort of form he was two years ago.This was Hurricane Fly's 14th Grade1 hurdle win.Hurricane Fly was completing the third leg of a Willie Mullins 35/1 four timer as Glens Melody (9/2) Pont Alexandre(4/7) and Ruprt Lamb (5/2) also won at the Foxrock Venue. Pont Alexandre will be many peoples idea of an Irish banker come cheltenham as he gave a very polished performance in the 2m4f Novice Hurdle building on his reputation as he trounced the opposition in impressive fashion. Rupert Lambs victory saw Ruby Walsh complete a treble on the card when making every yard of the beginners chase and Paul Townend aboard Glens Melody completed the four timer when he overturned the odds on favourite Zuzka in the Listed mares hurdle.
On the undercard there were victories for Legal Exit (12/1) in the opening race for trainer Jim Cullouty as he jumped past the short priced favourite Urano at the last to win eased down at the line while the Colm Murphy trained (7/2) followed up his Xmas victory when given a fine ride by Robbie Power to land the tote (81-123) rated Handicap Hurdle.
Co.Meath trainer Tony Martin may have unearthed a high class animal in the shape of Blackmail (6/4) as he was the mightily impressive winner of the 'Pro/Am' flat race when easily winning under a very confident Robbie McNamara ride and can go on to better things in the years ahead while the finale on the card was a tricky handicap chase and it produced the finish of the day as Tony McCoy got up in the shadow of the post on morning gamble (8/1 -4/1)
Competitive Edge returned the 10/3 favourite to deny the long time leader Quaretto by a head and send punters home happy.
Indeed listeners to Niall Colbert In Play show on Sat evening will have been handsomely rewarded if they followed our racing correspondent Vinny Grennan advice as he tipped up Glens Melody won (9/2) and each way bets Thousands Stars second at (9/1) and Our Vinnie third at (9/2) to continue his rich vein of form an and made it 13 winning selections in recent weeks from 15 selections.
0 comments:
Post a Comment