Epic letter in the Racing Post late 2013 from Patrick Mullins Show Hurricane the respect he deserves “I feel I have to respond to the comments by Simon Holt and Dave Edwards about Hurricane Fly in the Weekender of November 20. Simon says Fly has won “uncompetitive contests -- 11 of them at odds-on -- which barely deserved their lofty status”, while Dave says he has done his winning in “fields of six or less against the same opposition”. Both are, I would suggest, wrong and their views are coloured by them not rating Irish races highly, simply because they aren’t run in England. In his “uncompetitive” and “small field” races, Fly has beaten more than 20 Grade One winners, 12 of them Cheltenham Festival winners and 16 of them multiple Grade One winners. This group have won two Champion Hurdles, three Supreme Novices’ Hurdles, two Triumph Hurdles, three Christmas Hurdles, three Fighting Fifth Hurdles and four Aintree Hurdles almong the 50 Grade Ones they have won altogether. Fly also beat Literato (winner of the Group One Champion Stakes) and Spirit One (winner of the Grade One Arlington Million) into second and third in a Listed race in France. It is also important to remember Hurricane Fly missed the 2009 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the 2010 Champion Hurdle, won by Go Native and Binocular. He has beaten both of them, while neither has beaten him. Add to this the four other possible Grade Ones he missed around this time and three possible ones he missed in 2011/12 and he would seem unlucky not to have won more than 17. In 14 of his Grade One wins, the second horse has won two or more Grade Ones. Only twice has he had a non-Grade One winner finish second to him. Uncompetitive? A small field doesn’t mean it’s a bad race. It is harder to beat one good horse than ten average ones. Being odds-on shows nothing other than you are going to be very hard to beat, as a champion should be. Frankel was odds-on in all of his Grade Ones. Black Caviar was regularly sent off at 1/20. Istabraq was nearly always odds-on and I would imagine it is difficult to get odds against on Usain Bolt any time he lines up. There seems to be a thing about Fly beating Solwhit (five times) and Thousand Stars (three times) into second. Frankel beat Excelebration four times, at odds-on every time without leaving his home soil, but that, quite rightly, does not take away from his amazing legacy. Exotic Dancer was placed five times behind Kauto Star, but again this doesn’t take away from Kauto Star being one of the sport’s greats. Solwhit has won eight Grade One races, five in Ireland and three in England. He beat Punjabi into second at Punchestown after Punjabi had won the Champions Hurdle, with Quevega and Sizing Europe in third and fourth. He also beat Sublimity, another Champion Hurdle winner, into second at Leopardstown. I dare anyone to describe him as anything other than a genuine Grade One horse. Thousand Stars has won a Grade One over 2m in Ireland, two Grade Ones over 3m in France and was twice beaten only a neck in a Grade One over 2m4f in England. Indeed he beat Binocular at Punchestown in 2011 when second to Fly and beat Rock On Ruby at Punchestown 2013 when again second to Fly. The last two British-trained Champion Hurdle winners couldn’t beat Thousand Stars over 2m at Punchestown. He was only a length off The New One in Aintree this year. He can only be described as a genuine Grade One horse. Hurricane Fly made these horses look ordinary and some have assumed they are. However, they have both won Grade Ones outside Ireland, as well as in. When there is a champion, the competition looks weak because one is so far ahead of the rest. Hurricane Fly defied history in regaining his title after losing it. He has broken a world record despite having three periods of missed time. He has beaten the best over hurdles for the past five years, as well as Group One winners on the Flat, and he is a champion. Show him the respect he deserves.” PATRICK MULLINS,
Great horse and great win. The training feat and the riding skills that led the fly into the history books in mirroring that of Comedy of Errors will not be seen again in this lifetime.
Thanks for posting this. Why races are denied to potential viewers in places like Singapore is beyond me. Cheltenham should want to popularize the festival as part of popular culture instead of making it exclusive.
A lot of people was laughing when the fly was pushed early on and said the fly is gone case hahaha but a true champion knows how to find the extra gear...The best since istabraq back to his brilliant best.
Whenever I want to watch an absalutel champion I have a few I go to time and time again. So I've seen this and 2011 many times. I don't need some commentator to tell me his opinion because the Fly wrote his own C.V. He is one of the best we have seen his record says it all. For anyone in doubt about that take up Polo cos u sure don't know about racing. Seen film of him in retirement and he still looks great
What a champion! I'm going to say something , I was at the london racing club chelts preview night , mike Cattermole knocked the fly so much it was embarrassing, I out of pride , lumped more on the fly lol
Yes micko I am sir!!The fly is my main hope,big cash!!! Man and Superman, Mullins and Hurricane Fly, look ready for sport. They look ready to race hard and clean. They look ready to fly again.
A moment to savour in Cheltenham folklore. I went 30% Hurricane Fly, 30% Zarkandar,20% Rock On Ruby, 10% Countrywide Flame and 10% Binocular. The favourite was Hurricane Fly and prevailed. A great day for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins and also for Champagne Fever in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Make that a Grade 1 double.
I think hurricane fly is the true champion hurdler. He was clearly not right last year. I am so happy he won and I knew for months that he would regain the champion hurdle. I got 5/2 in the morning and there was no question of doubt that he would win for me. This is why I love cheltenham. I hope he stays sound and comes back next year to defend his crown?
You are not denied. Multiple streams are available on the internet. I watch everything in Thailand. You might have to use British proxy servers, but they are freely available. Try Firstrow ...
commentary not great. The Channel failed to capture any excitement and it lacked the triumphant athmosphere that CH deserves. For the times we live in, its of a very poor standard.
Hi Guys, you can watch this on channel 4 live online (watchlivechannel4) for free. This is the channel in the UK covering all Cheltenham.Not sure if it works outside uk. Hopefully it work it won't freeze on you 3 out like mine yesterday - got the win though!
age wont be the issue,our conor and the new one will have to improve some amount to trouble this fella,and heaven forbid we get heavy groung next year it would be a one horse race
so fry said after punchestown that ror was continuing over hurdles,dont think so,he will go novice chasing,theres no point the same as grandouet taking on the fly,he wont run in the champion next year wait and see,its a logical move,hurricane fly has run 4 times this year and won all four,ror only one once and that because of a fall to the ill fated darlan
wen did ror win the world hurdle jesus,god you know nothing,you bk ror then ante post,he prob should go chasing cause you already think he stays 3 miles since he won the world hurdle,wat a laugh,god i must have missed that cheltenahm where both the fly and ror run in the world hurdle
Epic letter in the Racing Post late 2013 from Patrick Mullins
Show Hurricane the respect he deserves
“I feel I have to respond to the comments by Simon Holt and Dave Edwards about Hurricane Fly in the Weekender of November 20.
Simon says Fly has won “uncompetitive contests -- 11 of them at odds-on -- which barely deserved their lofty status”, while Dave says he has done his winning in “fields of six or less against the same opposition”. Both are, I would suggest, wrong and their views are coloured by them not rating Irish races highly, simply because they aren’t run in England.
In his “uncompetitive” and “small field” races, Fly has beaten more than 20 Grade One winners, 12 of them Cheltenham Festival winners and 16 of them multiple Grade One winners. This group have won two Champion Hurdles, three Supreme
Novices’ Hurdles, two Triumph Hurdles, three Christmas Hurdles, three Fighting Fifth Hurdles and four Aintree Hurdles almong the 50 Grade Ones they have won altogether.
Fly also beat Literato (winner of the Group One Champion Stakes) and Spirit One (winner of the Grade One Arlington Million) into second and third in a Listed race in France.
It is also important to remember Hurricane Fly missed the 2009 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the 2010 Champion Hurdle, won by Go Native and Binocular. He has beaten both of them, while neither has beaten him. Add to this the four other
possible Grade Ones he missed around this time and three possible ones he missed in 2011/12 and he would seem unlucky not to have won more than 17.
In 14 of his Grade One wins, the second horse has won two or more Grade Ones. Only twice has he had a non-Grade One winner finish second to him. Uncompetitive? A small field doesn’t mean it’s a bad race. It is harder to beat one good horse than ten average ones.
Being odds-on shows nothing other than you are going to be very hard to beat, as a champion should be. Frankel was odds-on in all of his Grade Ones. Black Caviar was regularly sent off at 1/20. Istabraq was nearly always odds-on and I would imagine it is difficult to get odds against on Usain Bolt any time he lines up.
There seems to be a thing about Fly beating Solwhit (five times) and Thousand Stars (three times) into second. Frankel beat Excelebration four times, at odds-on every time without leaving his home soil, but that, quite rightly, does not take away from his amazing legacy. Exotic Dancer was placed five times behind Kauto Star, but again this doesn’t take away from Kauto Star being one of the sport’s greats.
Solwhit has won eight Grade One races, five in Ireland and three in England. He beat Punjabi into second at Punchestown after Punjabi had won the Champions Hurdle, with Quevega and Sizing Europe in third and fourth. He also beat Sublimity, another Champion Hurdle winner, into second at Leopardstown. I dare anyone to describe him as anything other than a genuine Grade One horse.
Thousand Stars has won a Grade One over 2m in Ireland, two Grade Ones over 3m in France and was twice beaten only a neck in a Grade One over 2m4f in England. Indeed he beat Binocular at Punchestown in 2011 when second to Fly and beat Rock On Ruby at Punchestown 2013 when again second to Fly. The last two British-trained Champion Hurdle winners couldn’t beat Thousand Stars over 2m at Punchestown. He was only a length off The New One in Aintree this year. He can only be described as a genuine Grade One horse.
Hurricane Fly made these horses look ordinary and some have assumed they are. However, they have both won Grade Ones outside Ireland, as well as in. When there is a champion, the competition looks weak because one is so far ahead of the
rest. Hurricane Fly defied history in regaining his title after losing it. He has broken a world record despite having three periods of missed time. He has beaten the best over hurdles for the past five years, as well as Group One winners on the Flat, and he is a champion. Show him the respect he deserves.”
PATRICK MULLINS,
He's spot on mate..If the horse was English they'd be raving about him
Amazing take and one I agree with
Great horse and great win. The training feat and the riding skills that led the fly into the history books in mirroring that of Comedy of Errors will not be seen again in this lifetime.
We miss you Hurricane Fly xxxx
Hurricane fly was a absolute machine I loved him
Me to pal we looked beat he’s won me some money
Easy victory for the Hurricane, great horse. Thanks for posting mate
Thanks for posting this. Why races are denied to potential viewers in places like Singapore is beyond me. Cheltenham should want to popularize the festival as part of popular culture instead of making it exclusive.
Absolute hairs on the back of the neck stand up job . I was waiting on him for some nice bets. Great rude and the best horse won on the day
Fantastic race, super horse. Delighted the Fly could prove all his doubters wrong
Me. Any bloody wait hope he does it again will make my day
A lot of people was laughing when the fly was pushed early on and said the fly is gone case hahaha but a true champion knows how to find the extra gear...The best since istabraq back to his brilliant best.
Whenever I want to watch an absalutel champion I have a few I go to time and time again. So I've seen this and 2011 many times. I don't need some commentator to tell me his opinion because the Fly wrote his own C.V. He is one of the best we have seen his record says it all. For anyone in doubt about that take up Polo cos u sure don't know about racing. Seen film of him in retirement and he still looks great
What a champion! I'm going to say something , I was at the london racing club chelts preview night , mike Cattermole knocked the fly so much it was embarrassing, I out of pride , lumped more on the fly lol
Yes micko I am sir!!The fly is my main hope,big cash!!! Man and Superman, Mullins and Hurricane Fly, look ready for sport. They look ready to race hard and clean. They look ready to fly again.
Great vid ,thanks for the upload.
Well done Hurricane Fly! Love you!
+♥Hurricane - Fly04♥ The 1975 Champion Hurdle race is available.
A moment to savour in Cheltenham folklore. I went 30% Hurricane Fly, 30% Zarkandar,20% Rock On Ruby, 10% Countrywide Flame and 10% Binocular. The favourite was Hurricane Fly and prevailed. A great day for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins and also for Champagne Fever in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Make that a Grade 1 double.
I think hurricane fly is the true champion hurdler. He was clearly not right last year. I am so happy he won and I knew for months that he would regain the champion hurdle. I got 5/2 in the morning and there was no question of doubt that he would win for me. This is why I love cheltenham. I hope he stays sound and comes back next year to defend his crown?
The Hurricane slick over hurdles and electric change of pace ridden by Mozart himself Ruby a truly grest team
I'm the idiot at the end that nearly runs into the back of the fly trying to catch my horse balder succes haha great race
Legend
Make way!........there's a Hurricane coming through!
Rock on ruby has gone chasing now
any one else watching this just waiting for next week??
yeah cant wait for it to all kick off next week. My highlight of the year is Cheltenham.
Yay!
hurricane fly top horse
When will these Brits accept that the Irish form is superior to the British form .
You are not denied. Multiple streams are available on the internet. I watch everything in Thailand. You might have to use British proxy servers, but they are freely available. Try Firstrow ...
Fucking get in there !!!!!
Desperate compared to the Channel 4 version of this. Same with Quevega from the same year.. wish it would be uploaded..!
commentary not great. The Channel failed to capture any excitement and it lacked the triumphant athmosphere that CH deserves. For the times we live in, its of a very poor standard.
Hi Guys, you can watch this on channel 4 live online (watchlivechannel4) for free. This is the channel in the UK covering all Cheltenham.Not sure if it works outside uk. Hopefully it work it won't freeze on you 3 out like mine yesterday - got the win though!
a true champion wuda beaten da mighty istabraq... wil struggle next year tho aginst our conor and the new one wit the age being major issue
No he wouldn't of beat istabraq you twat 😂
Same again now Tomorrow bud
age wont be the issue,our conor and the new one will have to improve some amount to trouble this fella,and heaven forbid we get heavy groung next year it would be a one horse race
I laugh at that myself eamonn ha ha
Told you rock on ruby would go chasing,who's laughing now ha
Going back hurdling now!
on the fly get in there did hear that paddy power didnt want any money for the fly
See>>> Comedy Of Errors- The 1975 Champion Hurdle (Cheltenham)
Do you think Hurricane Fly would have beaten Him?
trust me rock on ruby wont run in this next year
so fry said after punchestown that ror was continuing over hurdles,dont think so,he will go novice chasing,theres no point the same as grandouet taking on the fly,he wont run in the champion next year wait and see,its a logical move,hurricane fly has run 4 times this year and won all four,ror only one once and that because of a fall to the ill fated darlan
I've heard worse commentary.
wen did ror win the world hurdle jesus,god you know nothing,you bk ror then ante post,he prob should go chasing cause you already think he stays 3 miles since he won the world hurdle,wat a laugh,god i must have missed that cheltenahm where both the fly and ror run in the world hurdle