Hurricane Fly delivers a masterclass

Hurricane Fly brilliantly defended his title in a star-studded renewal of the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old (11-10 favourite) expertly lowered the colours of Our Conor and Jezki, two of Ireland's leading hurdlers, with another ruthless display under Ruby Walsh.

Hurricane Fly has now won an extraordinary 18 races in Grade One company and was roundly cut in the betting for the Champion Hurdle - a race he won so convincingly in the spring - at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Jezki (15-8) fared best of the young pretenders when finishing a slightly unlucky second in the five-runner Grade One over two miles.

Despite being prominent in the market for the Champion Hurdle, neither Our Conor nor Jezki could match the finishing kick of Hurricane Fly.

Laudable veteran Captain Cee Bee set a fierce pace under Mark Walsh, but he was unable to maintain such a rapid tempo and weakened two flights from home.

Hurricane Fly, who did not impress many when victorious in Punchestown's Morgiana Hurdle on his seasonal bow, was at the back of the field for most of the journey before he slalomed into contention late in the piece.

Mullins' ace jumped the last a fraction behind Our Conor, who along with Captain Cee Bee had earlier squeezed Jezki for room approaching the final flight.

Whereas Our Conor did not have much more to give, Jezki stayed on stoutly for jockey Tony McCoy.

Hurricane Fly was hardly knocked off his stride, though, and maintained a zesty gallop to ease home for another landmark success.

Mullins said: "It was a hugely tactical race and Ruby was very cool on him.

"At one stage I thought the leader (Captain Cee Bee) had got away in front, and Ruby had to quicken up a bit sooner than he would have liked to.

"We spent a long time getting him to settle and, as a result, he's inclined to go to sleep early in his races. Because of that, we've changed slightly the way we've trained him.

"He'll be back here at the end of January (Irish Champion Hurdle) and then it will be Cheltenham. He's coming along and is going to improve again.

"He's a fantastic horse and a horse of a generation."

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