Today Willie Mullins announced that the Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly will miss tomorrow's Istabraq Festival Hurdle after failing to impress in his work. For the second time in as many months (after the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown) racegoers will "only" get to see Thousand Stars try and win a Grade 1 for Mullins yard. Whilst we all know the horse has had his fitness issues over the years, I found Mullins statement nevertheless confusing: "He's grand and Paul Townend rode him out this morning," Mullins said on Wednesday afternoon. "I just wasn't happy that he was straight enough to do himself justice. He's fit and well but he just hasn't worked well enough to run tomorrow. He worked against Thousand Stars on the Curragh last week over a mile and two furlongs and he needed it badly. After that I wasn't happy I had him in order." "I told the owners that I wasn't happy with him and there was a chance he wouldn't run tomorrow. I left him in and decided to make a decision late on. As I've said before, he'll run when he's ready and not before." "I want to get a run into him before Cheltenham." Mullins suggested Hurricane Fly could have a racecourse gallop, while his next serious option could be the Irish Champion Hurdle on January 29. It all leaves me as a racing fan feeling a little bit frustrated. I want to see this marvellous horse winning races and from Mullins statement it's hard to comprehend what exactly is going on with the horse. I have no doubt that Willie Mullins is a genius of a trainer but surely he could tell us a little bit more about where he feels the horse is, what the main issue is and what is different to last season? Does anyone share my frustration, or have an more information / ideas about what is wrong with the champ??
Maybe Thousand Stars as come on loads over the summer and is going better than Hurricane Fly this year...
The Fly has always been fragile, so too has Quevega, chances are Mullins will get them both to Cheltenham in top form. I remember all the negative vibes at Cheltenham last year, one well connected judge I know was saying how So Young and Quevega worked out the week before Cheltenham and Quevega couldn't shake SY off leading connections to think Quevega wasn't right, well she wins the Mares in an embarrasing (for a festival race) canter and So Young who then got backed off the boards in his race could manage no better that 4th. It's always disappointing when the best horses miss Winter targets but there are plenty of big prizes available pretty much throughout the year these days so peaking in December is not critical, being fit for March is....
I think there's a subtle difference with Quevega though Grizzly - we all know she will have her first run of the season at the Cheltenham Festival. That is always the plan. Then maybe follow up at Punchestown if she stays sound. But I get the feeling with HF that Mullins is back to "feeling his way" with the horse after that spectacular last season. He clearly wanted to follow a similar programme to last season but the Morgiana has come and gone, and tomorrow's race has also now gone. I'm also not sure why HF is "fragile" - is he "just not right", or has he had a niggling injury on the gallops? Has he been running a temperature? To say he is "fragile" is a bit woolly to me and I don't understand this cloak and dagger stuff (like Henderson with Binocular). Reading between the lines of Mullins statement the horse is well but he is just not happy with his fitness and form. Can he not just come out and say that?
Fair points Oddy, if I were a Fly backer I'd only start getting worried if I haven't seen the horse by the time February comes around. Mullins has never been massively honest/open when dealing with the public/media, I guess we'll have to just wait and see when/where he lands next
I still don't think there is too much to be concerned with. My suspicion is that last season nobody, Mullins included, knew how good he could be. Therefore it made perfect sense to keep mopping up some decent Grade 1 pots in Ireland. However, everybody now knows that he is a machine and should win the Champion if he's on song. As such I expect his campaign is geared far more towards the Champion in March. Last season it was his ultimate target but I get the impression that this season is all about winning at Cheltenham in March. Because of his fragility Mullins doesn't want to risk him unnecessarily, especially if he is not 110% happy with where the horse is. I think so long as he lines up in A1 condition in the Champion Hurdle Mullins will be happy and so will everybody else. That is the sole target this season.
Would be intresting to see him move to an english trainer and if we would acutally see him fit!! IMO yes we would!! Just throwing it out there! lol
dissapointed myself oddy as i'm off to leopardstown 2mor and was looking forward to seeing him in action
I can't doubt Willie Mullins ability with an horse Woolcombe, Hes definetly one of the best about at this moment in time. Hurricane Fly as always been fragile and hes one of those horses that needs looking after, We all saw what he can do when they had a clean run with him he bolted up at Cheltenham and then annihilated Binocular at Punchestowns. Who would you rather have handle him? As much as Im a fan of Paul Nicholls hes never trained a Champion Hurdler. Nicky Henderson would be the only one I'd consider but he can never seem to get Binocular 100% these days so the jury is out on that one. I certainly think he is in the right hands with Willie Mullins. I just hope he turns up at Cheltenham in fine fettle to defend his crown...
Interesting that he was very solid around 2.6 on Betfair until a couple of weeks ago and has drifted to 3.55 since....
Yes mullins is top class with his hurdlers (more so than chasers.) HF is a fragile horse (hurdlers are more often more fragile) but surely the fact Mullins cant him fit very often, you cant keep over looking that! When he is fit, yes we all know what he can do, he is a beast of a hurdler! I would like to see him with Henderson more so nicholls- Henderson has trained an record equalling 5 winners in the CH so he knows how to train one. This year he has a couple of competitors in Binocular, Grandouet. Binocular- is a mystery! he won on boxing day but didnt run to near 100%. Grandouet will be a fantastic hurdler too. Also he has had Oscar whiskey again who is fantastice hurdler. Moving on to nicholls yes he has had not had a champion hurdler , but he does have last years triumph hurdle winner in Zarkander who is a definate contender, he has an unbeaten hurdler in Big Bucks differnet type of race I know, but the champion hurdler is one record of his CV and with HF on his yard, he would keep him fit, run him more than 2 times a year and give us the punters what we want to see, which is to see him run more and win us some more money!! Im just saying I think we would have a different story with his fitness if he was to set sail over the irish sea to the Nicholls or Henderson yards but unfortunately it will probably never happen!!!
I completely understand where your coming from Woolcombe, Im as frustrated as anyone that Hurricane Fly isn't always at the racecourse and continually getting scratched but Hes with the best trainer in Ireland and I think hes in the right hands. I guess you have to think of it this way, Why would Willie rush this horse back just to please the punters? Hes got to think of the horse's welfare firstly aswell as protecting one of his owners investments. This horse could win 2 or 3 more Champion Hurdles he's that good. Getting him to Cheltenham in fine fettle is his seasonal aim. I'll use Red Rum as an example, He had problems with his feet throughout his career even thought to be suffering from Pedalostitis at one time but Ginger McCain miraculously got this horse to 5 Grand Nationals and won 3 of them and that was down to looking after the horse and getting him ready for the big day in pristine condition. Im a huge fan of the Fly and he will take all the beating if he gets to Cheltenham in the same form as last year but I guess We don't know because We haven't seen him this year. Part and parcel of racing I guess... He was the natural successor to Istabraq but I think We'll be waiting a while longer yet for anyone to even match his record. He is still the best horse I have seen attack that hill and to jump an hurdle...
He did win 5 Grade 1 Hurdles last season. I think that is a more than decent return. And Spirit Son. I get the feeling that he is Henderson's main hope.
"I just wasn't happy that he was straight enough to do himself justice. He's fit and well but he just hasn't worked well enough to run tomorrow. He worked against Thousand Stars on the Curragh last week over a mile and two furlongs and he needed it badly. After that I wasn't happy I had him in order." If he struggled in work, he shouldn't start.
Cyc - I think Oddys point was that the statement below is what Mullins said after the supposed poor workout, perhaps questioning the honesty of the statement ? "He's grand and Paul Townend rode him out this morning," Mullins said on Wednesday afternoon.
Yeah, but we have to try reading what we can into the situation. I get the feeling that the horse just isn't up to it at the moment, but Mullins has to paint as bright a picture as possible. The horse must be reasonably forward, because he was targeted for tomorrow and sent out against Thousand Stars in work. Either TS is going better than they thought, or HF has shocked them a little. I don't think anything shonky is going on, it's just that HF probably isn't as forward as they believed.
So what IS the problem with Hurricane Fly? Mullins has an obligation to Thousand Stars owners also and it's seems there's a bit of pressure to keep the two apart... Not dissimilar to how PN campaigned Denman and Kauto Star. As is said above March is when it's essential he's firing and I think he will be. Questions would really need to be asked at that point, and dare I say it, more forthcoming answers. Extremely disappointing for us (the racing public) but we don't pay training fees to Mr Mullins. By the way questioning his training credentials is on a par with questioning Alex Ferguson's ability as a football manager. Perhaps you blame him when his star players get injured? Nonsense in the extreme
By the way comparing the two is a joke, The difference is Sir Alex has won the biggest trophy in club football, willie mullins has not and hasnt even had the horse to compete in the last few Gold Cups. Im not saying he isnt a good trainer, because he is very good trainer and im not doubting his training records, but he aint as high as comparing his to Alex Fergusons what he is to football!
The majority of the UK population would say he already has...Didn't Hedgehunter win it and who trained him
