Time has been called on the career of the record-breaking 11-year-old Hurricane Fly, who won an astonishing 22 Grade One races.
The son of Montjeu won 24 of his 32 races over hurdles, including the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011 and 2013.
He earned connections more than €2.5million in prize-money and had his final career start in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in June, when he could only finish sixth.
More than any other, Leopardstown was his favourite racecourse, with the Closutton inmate unbeaten in ten starts - all at Grade One class - at the Dublin circuit.
Paul Townend rode Hurricane Fly eight times, winning six Grade Ones.
"He played a huge part in my career," said Townend.
"It's sad that he's retired, but, at the same time, he's still in one piece and is a happy horse.
"The owners and Willie had a chat and decided now was the time.
"I had my first ride in a Grade One on him (when winning the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in 2008) and was lucky enough to have some great days with him.
"He was a tough horse with a huge heart and a will to win.
"I owe him a lot."
Hurricane Highlights - The very best of Hurricane Fly
Although bred in Ireland, where he was foaled and raised at the Irish National Stud, Hurricane Fly began his racing career in France after selling for €65,000 as a yearling at Goffs to trainer Jean-Luc Pelletan.
The son of Montjeu proved a classy Flat performer - being placed on three starts as a two-year-old before stepping up a level the following year.
He won on the first two outings of his three-year-old campaign, the second of them when beating subsequent Group One winner Literato in a Saint-Cloud Listed race, and went on to finish fourth to French Derby winner Lawman in a Group Three at Chantilly.
He was last on his final two Flat starts but had been schooled over hurdles by Pelletan since the age of two and was bought by bloodstock agent Richard Hobson to send to Willie Mullins.
"What can you say about him? He's a legend of a horse. This day was always going to come and it's great that we're doing it on our terms, rather than due to an injury or something like that."
Hurricane Fly proved a revelation over hurdles, winning on his debut at Punchestown in May 2008.
He went to Auteuil to win a Grade Three Hurdle later that month and won the first of a record 22 Grade One victories in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November that year under Townend.
Trainer Willie Mullins saluted what he described as a "legend of a horse".
He said: "He's come back into training and he's really well in himself, but having had a chat with the owners, they were keen enough to retire him while he is still in great order.
"He's a horse who has everything - speed and stamina and an incredible bravery and aggressiveness. I think those are the key factors."
He added: "We've not decided what he's going to do yet. He's still here and was ridden out as normal this morning. He's still a handful and I've no doubt he's a rising 12-year-old with the mind of a six-year-old.
"He's going to the Curragh to parade on Irish Champions Weekend and he's also going to Merano in Italy to parade there at their big Gold Cup meeting in September.
"He's also just been invited to go to the big meeting at Milan in October, without them knowing he was going to retired.
"We were invited last year but decided not to, but he can do that now."
Today marks the end of an era for my team and me. #HurricaneFly has been retired. He was a horse of a lifetime and a privilege to train
— Willie Mullins (@WillieMullinsNH) August 31, 2015
Happy retirement champ! What a legend! #theboss pic.twitter.com/rSGAcRwPeP
— Paul Townend (@PTownend) August 31, 2015
Hurricane Fly will always be associated with Ruby Walsh, with the multiple Irish champion jockey hailing his partner as "the best hurdler I have ever sat on".
Speaking in his blog for bookmaker Paddy Power, Walsh said: "It was a decision we knew was coming - but it's still strange to be talking about Hurricane Fly's retirement.
"I stayed out of the process and left it to Willie Mullins and the owners to make the call. If it was (left) to me it would have been a really hard call to make still.
"Quite simply, Hurricane Fly is the best hurdler I have ever sat on. The only hurdler you can compare him to in my lifetime is Istabraq.
"The Fly was back in training and still looks a million dollars. But the bold and brave choice had to be made on whether to retire him or go on for another season. But I'm sure when the news sinks in fully, it was the right decision.
"He was some horse and his record speaks for itself. Of his 22 Grade One wins - five of them came at Leopardstown and he was unbeaten at the Dublin track.
"We had some great battles there, particularly against Jezki in the last couple of seasons, but there were those who thought he was finished at one stage a couple of seasons ago.
"He was as good as ever last season and was still winning proper Grade Ones contests - not the 'gimmes' or walkovers that some would have you believe his career consisted of.
"There was also a school of thought that said that Cheltenham didn't really suit him.
"Really? He'd already won won two Champion Hurdles and I was still thinking about him as a Champion Hurdle contender last season - even at 11 years old. He ran a blinder to finish a six-length third to the much younger Faugheen in last season's opening day feature at Cheltenham.
"I'm sure if the Fly wasn't around I would have made my mind up on riding Faugheen much earlier - but it says something that the decision went down to the wire.
"That was a real testament to Hurricane Fly's courage, his will to win.
"His longevity and durability is what will mark him out as one of the true greats in jumps racing.
"I've been so lucky with horses like Hurricane Fly, Kauto Star and Big Buck's because without them I wouldn't have had the career I've had. Any jockey will tell you that you're only as good as the horses you ride.
"For me I got to ride the best two-mile hurdler (Hurricane Fly) and chaser (Kauto Star) of my era.
"And it's fitting that Hurricane Fly retires from racing where he always was on the track - at the top."
Hurricane Fly had many memorable battles with Jezki over the years, with the latter's trainer Jessica Harrington paying tribute to an "amazing" horse.
Harrington said: "Personally, I'm delighted he's retiring safe and sound and in one piece.
"He was an amazing horse to win all those races. That's testament to the horse's longevity, but also Willie's training of him.
"We thought last season, with Jezki having beaten him twice (Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and Racing Post Champion Hurdle at Punchestown), that he (Hurricane Fly) would be kicked out of the way.
"It obviously didn't work out that way as I had to wait until Punchestown (Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle) before we could beat him again.
"He was a great flag-bearer for Irish racing."
Hurricane Fly won the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown a record-breaking five times in succession.
Nessa Joyce, the track's racing and operations manager, said: "The Champion Hurdle here won't be the same without him, that's for sure.
"Everyone here has lots of good memories and I know there have already been discussions on the best way to acknowledge his achievements. I think everyone was just waiting to see whether he would retire or make another comeback.
"He's unbeaten at Leopardstown, which is an incredible record."
