Hurricane Fly set for return

CHAMPION HURDLER Hurricane Fly will return to action at Punchestown next month and is set to pursue a similar campaign to last season on the run up to defending his title at Cheltenham in March.

Hurricane Fly missed out on last November’s Morgiana Hurdle due to a setback but will take in the Grade One event on November 20th although Fairyhouse’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is also an option.

“The Morgiana is the obvious race to start off. We’ll have that at the back of our minds and see how we go.

“He missed it last year because he had a bit of a cough, so he will probably go there or he could go for the Hatton’s Grace over two and a half miles,” champion trainer Willie Mullins said yesterday.

“I don’t see any reason to change his programme from last year. Fingers crossed he could have another good year,” he added before confirming that the star mare Quevega will not tackle Hurricane Fly and instead go for a four-in-a-row in the David Nicholson Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“I’ve been chatting to the owners and we’ll probably do the same thing again.

“We’ll be happy if we can go over to Cheltenham and go for the mares’ hurdle again. We’d be delighted,” Mullins reported.