Hurricane Fly notched up his 18th Grade 1 win yesterday (Sunday 29 December), taking the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown under Ruby Walsh.
The Willie Mullins-trained 9-year-old was sent off 11-10 favourite and finished 2½ lengths ahead of Jezki. Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Our Conor was back in 3rd.
Hurricane Fly is now heading to defend his Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham in March, which looks set to be a thriller of a race.
Last month the top hurdler made history winning his 17th Grade 1, overtaking Kauto Star and US horse John Henry who both scored 16 Grade 1s in their careers.
Look at Hurricane Fly’s career in pictures so far:
For more on Hurricane Fly, don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound — out on Friday 3 January — for more
