Champion Hurdle News: Walsh hopeful with Hurricane

Ruby Walsh is confident Hurricane Fly can win the Champion Hurdle

Ruby Walsh does not believe Hurricane Fly has been seen at his very best on either of his previous two trips to the Cheltenham Festival...

A narrow winner of the 2011 Champion Hurdle from Peddlers Cross, the nine-year-old was beaten into third by Rock On Ruby and Overturn when an odds-on favourite to defend his crown at Prestbury Park 12 months ago.

Walsh believes the fact he was made to work hard to win his final start of the campaign at the Punchestown Festival showed Hurricane Fly was out of sorts last spring and he has looked much more like his old self so far this season, winning the Irish Champion Hurdle for the third successive year last month.

Speaking on Channel 4 Racing's The Morning Line, Walsh said: "Even when he went back and won at Punchestown, he didn't have any of the pace he has or even that enthusiasm. He was far too easy to settle and far too easy to hold. It was a case of making him go last year and that's not Hurricane Fly."

"When I look back it (last year's Champion Hurdle), when we went down the back I was just behind Zarkandar and I couldn't get by him. At that early stage I was flat out, so that spoke volumes to me."

"I don't think we've seen the best of him (at Cheltenham). I hope not."

Although confident in the capabilities of his own mount, Walsh respects the opposition in the Champion Hurdle.

"It's a good race. He still has Zarkandar and last year's champion Rock On Ruby to beat," said the jockey.

"Grandouet ran a cracker in the International Hurdle and surely will have improved for that run."

"It's by no means a foregone conclusion, but we have a great chance."

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