 Hurricane Fly, pictured among hurdlers at Punchestown in April |
Hurricane Fly enhanced his Champion Hurdle credentials as he headed a Willie Mullins treble at Fairyhouse. He beat Solwhit by a length-and-a-half in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle after Zaidpour's win in the previous race. Jockey Paul Townend scored a third win with Golden Silver in the Hilly Way Chase, but Mikael D'Haguenet fell at the last in the Drinmore Novice Chase. At Newbury, Tartak won the Peterborough Chase but the race was overshadowed as Twist Magic suffered a fatal fall. Twist Magic fell at the second last and brought down Deep Purple, leaving the Tom George-trained Tartak to win by half a length under Paddy Brennan from Breedsbreeze. It was later discovered that dual Tingle Creek Chase winner Twist Magic, trained by Paul Nicholls, had fractured a pastern. At Fairyhouse, Mikael D'Haguenet, considered a potential future Cheltenham Gold Cup contender, was sent off hot favourite despite making his first start in almost 600 days and his first outing over fences in Ireland. He duelled with Jessies Dream (7-2), trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Timmy Murphy, until slipping to the ground after the final obstacle and affording his rival victory. Fairyhouse staged four Grade One races in one afternoon, and Tranquil Sea won the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. The 2009 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner obliged at 5-2 for trainer Edward O'Grady, ahead of J'y Vole in second, with former RSA Chase winner Cooldine out of the places for Mullins.
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