Injury setback to keep Hurricane Fly grounded
Ruled Out: Hurricane Fly has been ruled out of the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Hurricane Fly is reportedly on the injured list with a ligament problem that rules him out of the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown next Tuesday.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins, who wasn't happy with the horse at the weekend, fears that the setback might indeed compromise his prospects of getting the five-year-old to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle.
Hurricane Fly disappointed on his seasonal return at Punchestown last month when only third in a Grade One behind Solwhit and Muirhead which are set to renew rivalry at Leopardstown.
Last March a splint problem denied Hurricane Fly a crack at the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival won by Go Native.
Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls splashed out £15,000 yesterday to supplement What A Friend, jointly owned by Alex Ferguson, for next Monday's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
After reviewing What A Friend's options over the weekend, Nicholls was happy to include the six-year-old in the field for the Grade One Lexus promotion which he successfully raided with Denman in 2007.
Quickly installed as a 5/1 chance by William Hill behind 3/1 joint favourites Joncol and Notre Pere, What A Friend staked his claim for an upgrade by finishing second to top weight Denman in the Hennessy at Newbury.
Although Betfair Chase runner-up Imperial Commander also figured among the initial acceptors yesterday, his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies prefers a rematch from Haydock with Kauto Star in the King George at Kempton.
However, Yorkshire native Robert Ogden, last year's successful Lexus Chase owner of the ill-fated Exotic Dancer, could be represented this time by the Alan King-trained 8/1 chance Voy Por Ustedes. Third in the Kempton showpiece last Christmas and later victorious in Aintree's Melling Chase, Voy Por Ustedes has been short-listed to travel from England as well as Money Trix (12/1) and Cloudy Lane (25/1).
Unless the snow and frost which has been hitting our neighbouring island hard scuttles the ambitions of these prospective English challengers, the home team face a tough task if they are to successfully defend this prize.
But the Golf Centre Festival Hurdle on the following afternoon is almost certain to be a purely domestic affair as lone English survivor, the Alan Fleming-trained Starluck, has the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton as his preferred target along with Noel Meade's Fighting Fifth Hurdle victor Go Native.
This pair have been left in the sixth Grade One contest of the four-day Leopardstown meeting as a precaution against Kempton being cancelled as Fighting Fifth second and third Sublimity and Solwhit face a rematch.
Undisputed
While last year's Golf Centre Hurdle winner Sublimity is generally available around the 8/1 mark to follow up next Tuesday, Solwhit remains the undisputed ante-post favourite with both Hills (2/1) and Paddy Power (9/4).
Meanwhile, the St Stephen's Day fixture at Down Royal could be in trouble with the Turf Club reporting that the course near Lisburn is frozen, so the situation will be monitored closely by their officials in the coming days.
More encouraging news for jumping fans in this country over the festive period is that temperatures are expected to improve from Thursday onwards. Leopardstown's advance going remains soft, it's soft on the hurdle track at Limerick with their 'chase route described as heavy, soft in places.
- Damien McElroy
Irish Independent
