Dual-Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly is retired

The legendary dual-Champion Hurdle winner and world-record Grade 1 scorer Hurricane Fly has been retired.

Time was called on the long career of one of Ireland's most popular racehorses in recent times by trainer Willie Mullins who labelled the eleven year old son of Montjeu a "horse of a generation."

Twice voted Horse Racing Ireland’s Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2013, ‘The Fly’ won 24 of his 32 starts over hurdles, including a world record tally of 22 Grade 1 events.

Ten of those victories came at Leopardstown where Hurricane Fly remained unbeaten, notching up five in a row in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle.

The pinnacle of the horse's career came when landing the Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham in 2011 and when he regained the title in 2013.

In between he finished third to Rock On Ruby and in his fifth Champion Hurdle appearance last March, he was again third to his stable companion Faugheen.

Hurricane Fly raced in the colours of owners George Creighton and Rose Boyd and was ridden in 23 of his races by Ruby Walsh. Paul Townend won on six of the eight occasions he rode the horse in races.