Hurricane Fly update Hurricane Fly will have to put a late scare behind him when he bids to claim an historic fourth successive victory in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. The record-breaking 18-times Grade One winner put younger rivals Jezki and Our Conor firmly in their place with a typically brilliant display in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival, and now aims to join Istabraq by winning this prestigious prize four times. However, the 10-year-old's preparation suffered a minor setback earlier this week because of a bruised foot and with Jezki and Our Conor back for more, trainer Willie Mullins admits his superstar will have to be right on his game if he is to make it eight wins from as many starts at the Foxrock track. "He worked poorly during the week and it turned out he had a bruise on his foot. He seems fine since, so we'll see how he goes," said Mullins. "We could have taken the easy way out and not run, but at the end of the day it's the Irish Champion Hurdle. Sometimes athletes carry bits of injuries into games and we're happy to let him take his chance. "I think he will need to reproduce his best form to win as I would expect both Jezki and Our Conor to come forward from the run at Christmas." Reflecting on Hurricane Fly's Christmas triumph, Mullins added: "It was a fantastic race and tactically it was a great spectacle. Plans A, B and C went out of the window. We didn't envisage we were going to be last jumping the second hurdle and Captain Cee Bee would be 25 lengths in front jumping the third. "It was a real cat and mouse game and Ruby (Walsh) was very cool. As good as the horse was, I thought Ruby was very good on him. He kept a very cool head in the circumstances. He is used to it I suppose." The same trio do battle again, along with admirable veteran and likely front-runner Captain Cee Bee, but this time on a tighter circuit than the one they faced over the festive period. Walsh feels the switch of track could play a crucial part in the outcome of the race. He told Racing UK: "He hasn't won 18 Grade Ones for no reason. He's won them because he's a very, very good horse. On Sunday in Leopardstown we'll be on the inner track, which is a sharper, speedier track. If you look at it coldly, it probably suits me a bit better. You'd be hoping Hurricane is going to hold them off again
