Either last night or this morning
Ruby Walsh is a man on a mission
RUBY WALSH has defended Hurricane Fly’s record at the Cheltenham Festival and believes the dual Champion Hurdle winner can replicate his stunning performances in Ireland provided he is ridden the correct way.
Hurricane Fly became the first horse since Comedy Of Errors in 1975 to regain the Stan James Champion Hurdle when defeating Rock On Ruby last year but despite two wins and a third in three runs at Cheltenham, many remain unconvinced that the ten-year-old is capable of reproducing his best Irish form in Britain.
Hurricane Fly has not been beaten in Ireland since November 2009 and recently recorded his 19th Grade 1 success in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, a course where he is unbeaten in eight starts.
However, Walsh feels there are genuine reasons why Hurricane Fly has failed to blow away racegoers in Britain and expects the Champion Hurdle favourite to show his true ability this year.
“He was too free the first year. I sat too far back on him the second year - he wasn’t 100 per cent - and last year I shouldn’t have followed the ones in front,” Walsh said. "They were going too fast and I followed them. I shouldn’t have.
"Racing is about pace, about judgement. I knew they were going too fast. I should have backed my own judgement and stayed where I was but instead I was thinking of all the criticism I got the year before and I kept following them. That was the mistake I made and the horse got me out of it. It won’t happen again.
"If I hadn’t followed the pace last year I’d have arrived turning in hard on the bridle and he’d have blown everybody away. But he still managed to win.
“I don’t think I’ve done things right on him at Cheltenham. The day I’ll get it right, he’ll show England what he’s shown Ireland.”
Hurricane Fly is 3-1 joint-favourite for the Champion Hurdle with The New One and Walsh is confident that his mount is arriving at the festival at the top of his game.
Laz, who are you backing in the CH?
[quote=“Kid Chocolate, post: 909896, member: 553”]TDB, what do you think of elliots other horse in the coral, un beau matin?
[/quote]
Without question, the stable’s second string 
6lbs lower than last year where he fell when beaten. Handicapper has given him a chance but gut feeling is he’ll go for the Martin Pipe.
Sure Reef a massive danger off 140 if he runs. He’ll be a 160 horse in time
My bet was made long ago Kid
Davy Russell rides Western Boy, Morning Assembly and Special Tiara
Sailors Warn in the martin pipe @ 33s…7lbs down on his mark 2 years ago where he was 2nd in the county. has been given 2 quick runs…and Ogradys only runner at the festival. owned by the one and only Patrick wilmott (professional gambler)
The professional gambling mustn’t be going too well for him as Sailors Warn seems to be his only horse these days, he had at 7 or 8 on the go up to last year.
Have backed Gilt Shadow for the Albert Bartlett ew at 40s.
I don’t think he puts them in his own name these days
He was 3rd
Where’s Pittoni these days? That was a horse with great potential.
he got injured…do you know ian murphy (fedamore)?
No
McCoy rides at fishers cross in the world hurdle
Annie Power, with Ruby Walsh on board, is going for the world hurdle.
This was never in doubt
Benefficient will be going for the Ryanair Tony Martin has confirmed.
Tom Segal with egg on his face over Annie Power? Or not. But you’d prefer punters got a run for their money