Irish Champion Hurdle Sees Hurricane Fly Drawing the Plaudits

Virtually all bookmakers have taken Hurricane Fly into odds-on prices as we are still a few weeks out from the 2012 Irish Champion Hurdle. Willy Mullins talented eight-year-old son of Montjeu has rattled off six wins in a row and looks virtually unbeatable over hurdles. His seasonal debut has been delayed for a while but he looks finally set to kick on at Grade 1 level at the end of January.

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Binocular is in the frame for this one and he competes with Unaccompanied for the position of second favourite. Unlike the betting favourite, Binocular has been out twice this season – disappointing on the first opportunity at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth before just nailing Rock on Ruby on the line at Kempton on the King George under card.

Sent off as the 5/4 favourite on both occasions, Binocular will be up against it here depending on whether Hurricane Fly comes into the contest as sharp as expected.

Unaccompanied has been raced on three occasions this year in Ireland and will be coming into this one with plenty of momentum having just captured the Istabraq at Leopardstown over the creme de la creme of the Irish hurdling circuit. The five-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer will continue dropping in price and will likely be around 7/2 on the day.

Spirit Son, Thousand Stars and Voler La Vedette are all floating around the 8/1 range currently with Oscars Well, So Young, Zaidpour and Mikael D'Haguenet trading around the 12/1-14/1 range.

Lightly-raced Spirit Son is taking plenty of headlines for this one as well and you do have to wonder about what type of form Nicky Henderson will have him in as he's been unraced since capturing the Grade 2 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree by a devastating 13 lengths.

With only five races under his belt so far, he is rapidly emerging as a serious wildcard for this one and there are plenty of clues on offer that punters are ready to give him some respect.