Hurricane Fly wins Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
March 15, 2011CHELTENHAM, England (AP) - Hurricane Fly gave jockey Ruby Walsh his first win in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, beating Peddlers Cross in the showcase race of the opening day at Cheltenham.
The 11-4 favorite powered in front after the final hurdle to beat Peddlers Cross (9-2) by a length and a quarter. Oscar Whisky was third.
The Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly missed the Cheltenham Festival the last two years with injuries. Mullins said he was happy just to get the horse into the race this time, and that ``the relief even when he left the parade ring was enormous.''
Mullins said he was ``just delighted he got the chance to show what he can do.''
Walsh also won the first race of the day, when Al Ferof took the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.