Previews

This weekend is all about one horse: Hurricane Fly. How will Willie Mullins’ superstar find his return to action?

Eight hundred and five days. That’s how long it is since Hurricane Fly was beaten in a race. On November 15, 2009, Solwhit, as well as Muirhead, crossed the line in the Dobbins & Madigans At Punchestown Hurdle ahead of the magnificent hurdler.

The ground was heavy that day and it was Hurricane’s first run of the season, if you're looking for excuses. Since then six consecutive Grade 1 successes have made the eight-year-old a star and a Champion Hurdler to boot.

On Sunday he returns to action in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2.30). All the noise from the yard and those in the know say that he is looking as good as ever and that we shouldn’t be concerned about his long lay-off since  winning the Rabobank Champion Hurdle in May.

The bookies believe too, with Hurricane Fly odds on with all of them. Could you oppose him? You could but he is unbeaten over this course and distance and he's such a magnificent hurdler that going against him would be almost sinful.

Dermot Weld’s Unaccompanied is the rising star of the division so we will watch with interest how the five-year-old mare, a winner of the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas, performs at this level.

But we all want to see Hurricane Fly back and winning, so let’s hope he does.

The other Grade 1 at the Dublin track on Sunday is the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Steeplechase (1.25). Again all eyes will be on a Mullins’ horse, our Cheltenham Arkle fancy Blackstairmountain.

He beat most of the rivals he will face on Sunday in impressive fashion in the Racing Post Novice Chase on St Stephen’s Day and we find it hard to think of a reason why he won’t repeat that success on Sunday.

Peter Casey’s Flemenstar is a new rival but this is a step up in class for him and we think Blackstairmountain will be too big an obstacle for him to climb (sorry).

Tasty treble?

And Mullins, who has hoovered up prize after prize over the last few weeks, could have a very tasty treble if Boston Bob can land the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle (3.05).

With all the excitement about Hurricane Fly it would be easy to forget about Day 1 of the fun at Leopardstown. On Saturday there are some very lively contests too with the Boylesports.com - Bet On Your Mobile Novice Steeplechase (2.15) the first highlight.

We have always been a fan of Donnas Palm (if he runs) but this race could be a straight fight between Hidden Cyclone and Sir Des Amix.

The feature is next up, the Boylesports.com Hurdle (2.50). A maximum field of 30 go to post in this monster puzzle to work out. We like the look of Cass Bligh, especially at odds of 14/1, with Arthur Moore’s Fred Winter winner What a Charm also appealing at around the same price.

The next race, the Leopardstown Handicap Steeplechase, is not bad either and we think Arklow Ger could repeat his St Stephen’s Day win at the Foxrock track when a large field of 22 go to post.

By Monday we will have a much clearer picture of what the Festival chances will be of many of Ireland’s top hopes. But it is really all about you know who.