Willie Mullins has expressed his delight with Hurricane Fly as the crack two-miler builds towards the defence of his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham next month.

Having only recently started to please Mullins in his home work, the eight-year-old made his first appearance since Punchestown last May when cruising to success in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

Reporting him to have thrived since, Mullins said: "Hurricane Fly is fantastically well at the moment. Paul (Townend) rides him out every day at home and he said he's jumping out of his skin."

He went on: "He had a nice easy week last week and he'll have another easy one this week before we start building him up for Cheltenham. I've been very happy with him."

23 May 2012

Camelot tops Champion entry
Smullen takes Sea ride
Prohibit set to swerve Temple test
Great Leighs fixture bid refused
Disappointment for Rooney team
Aigles among Longchamp contenders
Star set for Epsom trip
Lyons plots Pearl route
Height a tall order for Coquet
Collina camp's grounds for optimism
Nothing grim about Reaper - Lyons
Expense to stake Cocked Hat claim
Twelve steps back in grade
Nottingham maidens go West
Guest raising sights with Miliika
Sprinter races to record mark
Invincible Buck's rules supreme
King Kauto ranked No.1 again
Trees to take Temple test
Hermival confirmed for Guineas
Think booked for Curragh Gold
Samitar facing Ballydoyle big guns

22 May 2012

Pulse aims for Ascot redemption
Brother sent to Coventry
Kitty handed Ascot target
Prescott mulling Worthadd route
Chepstow test for Rooney colt
Cheka team happy to chase Caviar
Charlton maps out Roko agenda
Santo set for Greenlands run
Pearl misses Classic date
Hanson makes it count at Redcar
McCoy to the four at Newton Abbot
Late Classic clues in Cocked Hat
Ferland wants Frankie for Dabirsim
Unaccompanied given Cork mission
Ballydoyle boss Curragh Classic
Sole Power heads Temple entry
Gold Cup hero Oats dies, aged 26
Frankel in a world of his own

21 May 2012

Cross ticks boxes for Derby bid
Greatrex splits with owner Denmark
Mullins pair set for French rematch
Ascot option for Danedream
Channon making Royal plans
Fame strikes on Navan return
Arc star back with a victory
Mullins star lands French prize
Asset third in Singapore
Turner hails Abdullah jockeys
O'Sullevan joins in accolades
Fort to aim for bigger prizes
Longchamp beckons for Penitent
Classy Pearl sent to Coventry

20 May 2012

Fame strikes on Navan return
Frankel set for Queen Anne
Ascot possible for Mulaqen
Another shoots for Triple Crown
Shanahan gets off the mark
Athos has Melbourne date
Mighty Frankel takes Lockinge
Expense claims Gold Cup
Dettori times it just right
Derby option for Worthy winner
Tregoning strikes with Hawaafez
Bishop pounces for debut success
Brindisi killed in accident