Eight horses have been entered for this Sunday’s (25 January) BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle, which takes place at Leopardstown Racecourse. Included in this number is Hurricane Fly, who is bidding for his 22nd Grade 1 success and his fifth consecutive victory in the race. The legendary Istabraq and Hurricane Fly stand side-by-side with four consecutive wins so a victory by Hurricane Fly would mean a new Irish Champion Hurdle record. Only last month, at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, Hurricane Fly recorded an epic victory against his younger rival Jezki in the Ryanair Hurdle. He currently remains unbeaten at Leopardstown over nine starts. With the potential for a Jezki-Hurricane Fly rematch and a historic win, the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle has all the ingredients of another Leopardstown classic.

Speaking earlier this week, trainer Willie Mullins said: “I hope it will be a good race on Sunday. Hurricane Fly is a small but a very strong horse with a big heart and he doesn’t like to lose; winning is part of his make-up and he’s very determined.”

Quality on show at February NH sale

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The Tattersalls Ireland February National Hunt Sale takes place on Tuesday 3 February and the catalogue can now be viewed at www.tattersalls.ie. 272 lots are included in the catalogue, which comprises older horses, horses in training, two-year-olds, yearlings and mares.

The February National Hunt Sale has developed a reputation for providing top-class racehorses, as illustrated recently by dual-Grade 1 winner Road To Riches, an €8,000 purchase and Black Hercules, a Grade 3 winner and purchased for a mere €3,000. The catalogue can now be viewed online and is also available from Tattersalls Ireland.