Light campaign in store for Fly :: Horse Racing News

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02:31 Friday 10th February 2012

Updated: 2nd September 2010

Light campaign in store for Fly

PA News

Willie Mullins is keeping his fingers crossed that this will be the season star hurdler Hurricane Fly finally gets his trip to the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old has won six of his eight starts since joining the trainer in 2008 - but injury has meant he has missed out on a trip to Prestbury Park for the last two campaigns.

He looked as good as ever when making a winning return to action at Punchestown in April and Mullins told At The Races: "Paul (Townend) produced him nicely at Punchestown, I thought he was beaten 50 yards from the line but the horse put his head down and said he wasn't going to be beaten."

Mullins went on: "I love a horse like that with plenty of guts and he has ability as well, so hopefully we can keep him right for Cheltenham this year. Our main aim will be to get him towards Cheltenham as he's missed the boat the last two years.

"I don't think a heavy schedule is any good to him and I haven't sat down and thought about where he'd start yet. I'd imagine the race at Punchestown he ran in last November might be an idea."

Another Mullins inmate who could be Champion Hurdle-bound is Blackstairmountain, who won the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last term.

"He's in great shape and I'll try and get him going sooner because he's not a real heavy ground, winter horse," Mullins added.

"He improved all last season and I think he'll improve again - he'll have to if he's going to go to Cheltenham."