Hurricane's rivals challenged to step up Ruby Walsh has challenged smart youngsters Our Conor and Jezki to step up to the plate as they prepare to tackle the brilliant Hurricane Fly in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow. Dual Champion Hurdle hero Hurricane Fly will be searching for a remarkable 18th Grade One victory in Sunday's feature, having broken the record for the number of top-level victories with a workmanlike display in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. Willie Mullins' charge faces a couple of new challengers this weekend, however, with the Dessie Hughes-trained Our Conor making his first jumping appearance since a breathtaking display in the Triumph Hurdle. Jessica Harrington's Jezki claimed his fourth Grade One haul in the in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse at the start of the month and adds further strength in depth, but Walsh is in confident mood. He said: "Hurricane Fly will handle the ground on Sunday - he handles anything, he's Hurricane Fly. Our Conor is a brilliant juvenile and Jezki is a very good novice, but you can be a good underage player but how do you perform at senior level?" Our Conor performed creditably when fourth on his seasonal reappearance in a Flat race at Naas in October and missed the Morgiana after suffering a setback. Hughes is delighted with his stable star heading into this weekend's assignment, however. The trainer said: "He's fit and well and I'm very happy with him. If the ground is soft that won't be a problem, so we'll just have to see what happens. We'll know a lot more on Sunday night, that's for sure. "No-one could ever think he'd win like that around Cheltenham, it was nearly impossible what he did, he was never out of a canter in the race and won as if it was only a stroll. Hopefully he's as good as he looked. "He'll have the Leopardstown run and probably one other before he goes to Cheltenham. There's definitely added pressure this year, preparing any horse for the Champion Hurdle there's pressure, especially a horse like him, everyone is waiting to see if he has improved or is he as good as what he showed, and I have to prove that now." Danny Mullins will be riding Our Conor for the first time over hurdles. He said: "I rode Our Conor in a bit of work after racing at Navan (December 21). He's in great shape - he'll need to be, but we're going there all guns blazing anyway. Hurricane Fly speaks for himself, he is the one to beat. We are the young ones. the underdogs, but hopefully we'll give him a run for it." Harrington is similarly pleased with Jezki. She said: "I'm looking forward to the weekend. We've done everything we can with our horse and he seems in great form. He's won on soft ground before, so that wouldn't worry me and we'll just have to wait and see what happens on the day. He's done everything we've asked of him this year and you can't do any more than that."
