Fly rated just a pound below Istabraq

Hurricane Fly has been rated the second-best hurdler in the 14-year history of the Anglo-Irish Jump Classification.

The star of Willie Mullins' phenomenal team, Hurricane Fly regained his Champion Hurdle crown and his rating of 175 is just 1lb short of the 176 achieved on two occasions by Istabraq, who is regarded as one of the very best of all time.

As well as being the leading two-miler, Hurricane Fly was the top overall hurdler as he was 1lb ahead of supreme stayer Big Buck's, who is yet to achieve a greater rating than 174 and only raced once last season because of injury.

However, the jury of senior British Horseracing Authority handicappers and their Irish counterparts believe Hurricane Fly will face a severe challenge from what they view was an unprecedented standard of up-and-coming novices.

Irish handicapper Noel O'Brien said: "Hurricane Fly is an outstanding hurdler of this or any other generation and he has only met with defeat twice since arriving from France - once to Solwhit, who he beat the next four times, and once in last year's Champion Hurdle when he wasn't himself.

"Despite winning two Champion Hurdles, Cheltenham isn't his track and I believe he won despite Cheltenham.

"The Hurricane Fly we see in Ireland is astonishing and I thought his defeat of Thousand Stars at Punchestown was breathtaking.

"You can only beat what's put in front of you, and his 175 rating from Punchestown I believe is justified.

"He continues to improve at the age of nine, but he comes into a challenging time with the novices."

Those novices include The New One, top of the division on 165 after his Neptune victory, and the hugely impressive Triumph winner Our Conor, who is the highest-rated juvenile in classification history on 161.

That is the same rating achieved by Jezki, who rounded off his season in fine fashion at Punchestown.

BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood said: "It was no disgrace for The New One to be second to Zarkandar at Aintree and he is the second-highest rated novice in history behind Iris's Gift.

"I can see him challenging for the Champion Hurdle next season, whether he is good enough remains to be seen, but 165 would be a minimum I think."

His colleague Phil Smith said: "I can't remember a classification where the Supreme winner (Champagne Fever) only finished fifth.

"The Champion Hurdle looks a pretty strong race next year with half a dozen outstanding horses."

Big Buck's, who beat Reve De Sivola by nine lengths at Newbury in December, is well ahead of wondermare Quevega and Zarkandar on 167.

Solwhit, who took the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in Big Buck's absence, is only on 166.

Greenwood said: "Big Buck's earned 174 in March, 2009 and it has never moved. He only had one race last season but he showed enough to say his ability is there.

"I have always felt 174 was on the conservative side and hopefully he can come back next year against a few challengers and we can see what he runs up to.

"If Quevega on 167 ran against Big Buck's she would be receiving 7lb, so they would be level, but my money would still be on Big Buck's.

"Sadly they will probably never meet as Ruby Walsh would be crazy to give up two winners under the circumstances."

"Solwhit has been a revelation and a credit to his trainer. Aintree was a truer test for him and he proved he stays. It's a shame he didn't run against Quevega at Punchestown."