The BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle will see Hurricane Fly and Jezki clash for the seventh time. The record is 4-2 in favour of the former and the view of the market is that Willie Mullins’ stable star will maintain his unbeaten record at Leopardstown.
He is 4-5 to do so with Jezki priced at 6-4 having pushed 11-year-old Hurricane Fly all the way last time out. The positions are reversed in the Champion Hurdle market with Jezki 9-2 against what could prove a very tempting 12-1 about Hurricane Fly (prices via Boylesports).
Can Jezki stop Hurricane Fly from picking up a 22nd Grade One on Sunday?
We canvassed a range of expert opinions ahead of the upcoming ‘Round Seven’ meeting of the pair at Leopardstown.
At time of writing, the going is expected to be soft, yielding in places.
Tracey Piggott (Broadcaster): "I was down in Jessica Harrington's this week and Jezki is flying and in really good form. I do think that they don’t want him to peak too soon. The big day is March. But he’s looking fantastic and has definitely matured into a much quieter and more mature horse.
"As for Hurricane Fly, he’s an outstanding horse with 21 Grade One wins. You have a contrast in types in that Jezki is more of a National Hunt chasing type while Hurricane Fly is more of a flat type horse - he’s lighter and differently built.
“Hurricane Fly loves Leopardstown and the rain has come in Kildare which will suit so while I’m expecting a big run from Jezki, I think Hurricane Fly will pip him this time but that it will be a different story in March.”
Andrew McNamara (Jockey): "“Hurricane Fly is Ireland’s greatest ever hurdler and the dominant horse of his era but that has to come to an end at some stage and I’m in the Jezki camp this time. There was so little between them last time out and I think the ground has just turned in Jezki’s favour.
“Looking ahead to March I’d be a Faugheen supporter and Ruby will have a tough decision to take when we get to that stage.”
Ted Walsh (Trainer): “Hurricane Fly is the best hurdler we’ve seen since Istabraq and he was the best since Persian War. I can go back further if you want!
"He has never been quite as good as he is in Ireland as he is at Cheltenham whether because of the travel or the ground or the nature of the race, but he has been breathtaking here in Ireland on occasion.
“I was of the view that Jezki had the measure of Hurricane Fly but I was proved wrong the last time. It’s a small field and they have both a great in the saddle so I don’t think there is any tactic that will decide it. It could come down to whichever one wings the last, it’s that tight between them.
"The heart says Hurricane Fly but he has to stop winning at some stage and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Jezki got there as it is so close between them.”
Hugh Cahill (Journalist): “It's disappointing that My Tent Or Yours and Our Conor won't be lining up at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March as if you had those two, Faugheen, The New One, Jezki and Hurricane Fly, 2015 would have be the most exciting Champion Hurdle in years. Unfortunately it's not to be.
“At the moment, the hype machine around Faugheen has reached fever pitch. For me, while he won convincingly at Kempton against an average enough field on 26 December he has yet to take on his main rivals for the Cheltenham crown and while he may well be a superstar in waiting, he still has it all to prove and 5/4 and worse about him for the Champion Hurdle looks much too short.
“The value bet for March has to be Jezki at 6/1. The defending champion is following the same path to the Festival that worked so well for him last year and while he has yet to account for Hurricane Fly this season, his last two runs were no disgrace.
“Jezki will undoubtedly improve with better ground and at 6/4 , I think he is also worth siding with on Sunday, as long as we don’t get too much rain between now and then.”
Barry McEneaney (Journalist): “These two have met twice this season with Hurricane Fly winning both times. I think Hurricane Fly may have been slightly flattered by his two-and-a-quarter length win over Jezki in the Morgiana in November; the half-length win over Jezki at Leopardstown at Christmas is a more accurate predictor of what we can expect this time.
“Hurricane Fly is versatile but he seems at his best accelerating off a slow early pace in softer ground. Fans sometimes forget this was a horse who beat two future Group One winners (Literato and Spirit One) in a Listed race in France back in 2007. He is one of the classiest ever recruits off the Flat.
“Jessica Harrington will be hoping for rather different conditions for Jezki, who should be most effective in a race run at a stronger gallop on a sounder surface.
“Second-guessing just how fit the trainers will have their charges is a major conundrum (one that could be easily solved if horses’ body weights were recorded and made public) but there must be a major temptation for Willie Mullins to have Hurricane Fly cherry ripe for this race as he bids to surpass the record he shares with Istabraq of four wins in it.
“On balance, I’m not sure I want get embroiled in a skirmish with Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown, and for many this will be a no-bet race. If the ground is soft or slower, I’d just favour Hurricane Fly, but if the word ‘yielding’ appears in the official going description, Jezki would be the tentative selection. Keeping an eye on ground conditions in the earlier races on the card before wagering looks a good idea.”
Brian Gleeson (Betting Expert): “I have to go with Hurricane Fly. He’s never been beaten at Leopardstown and while people might question his record in England, you have to remember that he has won two Champion Hurdles there. He is as good a hurdler as we’ve seen in a long time.
"When you get a class horse off the flat and he jumps with that quickness and that flick over the fences, you have something special. I also think Willie will have him in peak condition on Sunday whereas Jezki’s main target is March.
"As happened at Christmas I hope they come to the last again with nothing between them and that we see another great contest and I would encourage everyone to either come to Leopardstown or tune in to watch a very special horse."
Watch BHP Insurance Champion Hurdle day racing coverage including the clash of Hurricane Fly and Jezki from 1.20pm on RTÉ 2.
