If UDS went off at a fast pace, he could not return the same horse, and out the window could go Hurricane Fly's chances. Hurricane Fly isn't one dimensional by any means, but a fast pace wouldn't half make it a bit more difficult. Could he go from winning 2 bob races against who the feck, to winning a CH from the front ? ...would it not be more sensible to let other horses have a tough race at the festival, then take them on at Punchestown ?

Send UDS to Mr OBrien. Would love Aiden to get back into it with the force of "the lads" behind him.

I've not backed UDS and neither do I think he would win but Jesus the horse is 6yo ffs and hands up if yer bored with the Hurricane Fly and Willie Mullins love-in? Class horse but reason why a lot haven't got him in their hearts is the man who trains him.

There's a couple on here who will I think will need to visit A & E if the Fly gets beat. And I also think there are a few UDS fans who would have a wee gentle s**** also

Sniggger...as in laugh...Jesus betfair!!

Would make me LOL anyway if I woke up to read Rich Ricci falls out with Pinocchio Mullins n teams up with the master AOB.

"Listen first of all obviously ye know we have certain horses that would go for certain races and listen we will aim them to find top races cos listen the lads don't fart around ye understand?we run em in the derby cos it's the best race and ah sure now listen if we had a decent one we wouldn't fanny around at Gowran park are ye listenin?"

I'm gonna take a guess here and say that those who are most vocal / angry about this are those who have backed UDS

Whoever posted that^,You are right as far as this does apply to me,but I do think a fair few neutrals feel the same.

I would also say that those who are sticking up for Mullins over this are those that either AINT backed UDS,or just aint bothered about the extra quality of race and the excitement it would have bought....or both!! That's probably worse kind of pocket talk.

Either way their is pocket talk involved, but some of us actually want the festival and the big races as good as they can be and without this front running talent we will not have that.

I've got a tenner EW nrfb on UDS so not going to change my life, but he and AP will make the race. It really is that simple.   Racingguru you are 100% correct re front running.

Don't see why everyone is complaining about Mullins tbh - as punters it's our 'job' to try and guess what a trainer is going to do, especially in Ante-Post markets...

It's been said on here going back months that;

Ruby won't get off the fly
Mullins/stable want the fly to win

So instead of moaning, why not try to profit from it?

I'm on The Fly, partly because of the above and also due to him being the best horse. People can say he was beaten at odds on two years ago, but they seem to forget that The New One has already been beaten at odds-on TWICE and My Tent Or Yours beaten at odds-on TWICE..

I'm also on Annie Power for The World Hurdle at 10s downwards NRNB, there was no reason to think she'd turn up in the Champion or Mares..

The good thing about Mullins 'indecisiveness' is that you can get a decent price if you call him right

Great post and this is what I meant earlier. UDS owner should remove it from the yard and go phone Aiden O'Brien, Paul Nicholls or Nicky Henderson cos the situation with these yards is that it is all about the horse, not the trainer.

I have The New One, MTOY both at 7-1 and Hurricane Fly in a double with Munich v Arsenal at 13-2 but to be quite honest, I hope the Fly gets stuffed.

I agree with both of the above - but when you have the strongest stable in the world as Willie Mullins does, the balance of power tends toward the trainer rather than the owner - Mullins doesn't really care if UDS goes to Nicholls or Henderson, because he has 2 other horses who have every chance [probably the better chance] of winning him the CH.

This is, without a doubt IMO, the strongest field ever assembled for a hurdle race. In an poor-to-average year, any of the first seven in the market would have been favourite in their own right. At the beginning of the season, I had a big bet on The New One because I believed he had the optimium amount of speed and strength to win the race. I thought he was gonna prove himself a bit of a freak and to this day, still think he is. However, I've since laid my bet off because of the quality of this field (particularly in Mullins' yard). Annie Power may not have been tested all that highly, but she's still dispatched a 155-160ish horse in Zarkandar without breaking a sweat, has plenty of speed and bundles of stamina and finds plenty for pressure. Receiving 7 pounds, if the owners have their way and she runs in the CH, none of them will be able to stop her. UDS if he runs to grind it out and from the front and never see another horse. MTOY (whom I'd previously thought of as a bridle ponce) has a higher cruising speed of any horse I've seen over hurdles, and has obviously a better temperment than he had last year. I don't think HF will be good enough to win again, but it would take a fool to rule him out. Our Conor is improving for each run and Jezki will be suited by the confirmed strong gallop. This is an insanely strong field.

Going back a couple of pages concerning whether UDS stays hurdling next year, I'd have thought that missing the CH this year, strongly suggests that he will remain hurdling next year and it really is another sign that they are perhaps helping out HF a bit.

Most agree that he deserves his spot in it, so to NEVER ever run in it is nonsense, if he was going chasing next year then there would be a stronger chance that he'd run in the CH this year because it would be his best chance.

My guess is that Mullins is saying to connections that he deserves his chance but it may be a year too soon as , although he's been impressive, he may well get a shock to the system going from one extreme to the other so soon, wait till next year where he can be given a proper CH prep and also, it's a fair guess that the quality of the field won't be as strong.

Differentdrum ,I actually have a completely  different take on the Irish Champion Hurdle run of The Hurricane to yours. My view is this was one of his best performances ever. It came on the back of a setback during the week when WPM stated that the horse had worked badly after being slightly lame. He went so far as to say the horse had never worked badly before and he was really concerned about the effect it may have on the day. The slow pace was actually more ideal for Our Conor who tanked throughout the race till after the last when The Fly who made a rare mistake at the last out battled him to win going away giving him 2 lbs. Hurricane Fly showed a wonderful will to win when things headed ,a quality that will always stand him in good stead at a track like Cheltenham. I really think this fellow is as good as ever this season(needs to be as he is taking on the stiffest opposition he has ever had to deal with).

Yes, it's an interesting point about the view by some over here about the fly not getting enough credit because if Mullins is trying to smooth the way for him, he's also providing his knockers with yet another stick to beat him with at the same time.

The race is being completely over hyped, I cannot wait to see hurricane fly destroy this bunch. And I ain't talking a half length or just getting up on the line. He will destroy this field in his most impressive victory to date.

cracking post that differentdrum...totally agree certainly no world beaters, as there hasn't been for a good few years now imo

so much hype and not a lot of substance...really hope un de sceaux runs as the race needs him and the race also needs pace as no confirmed front runner as racing guru alludes to, the race can't possibly do him any harm and for the neutral he is the most interesting runner

i rarely bet in this race as the value is sucked from the market like so many championship races but think out of all the runners would love to see this horse take his chance

i think the market has it about right but think out of the runners the kempton hurdle is the best form on offer that i have seen anyway, our connor has been trained for the race but is short and hurricane fly unless he gets proper soft makes no appeal at the price we are getting

shame if un de sceaux or annie power don't run as they are the most interesting runners imo

One of them will run in the Aintree hurdle I reckon.

Budd, you're spot on but had enough of this now. Can't see HF winning myself based on his Cheltenham form alone. Seriously have a close look at the last 3 Champions and ask whether the form is good enough for this year's renewal? I think not and he's now 10. Mullins plan WILL backfire.

Surely Mullins thinks the Fly will win or he wouldn't withdraw UDS

Hurricane Flys Cheltenham form is the best in the field surely?

Ok.  2011 2nd Peddlers Cross  Has only won 1 hurdle race since a 2m6 eggand spoon race at Musselburg at 1/5. 3rd Oscar Whisky hasn't raced at 2m since the race.

2012. 1st Rock on Ruby has only won 1 hurdle race since when Darlan sadly fell at the last. 2nd Overturn, not raced in a hurdle race since.

2013. 2nd Rock on Ruby. See above but not won a hurdle since and hammered by TNO. 3rd Countrywide Flame only one hurdle race since and well beat.

Am I wrong or is this form uninspiring.  20 grade 1's for HF is brilliant but Chelt form is not his best quite clearly compared to his Irish form.

The two stand out rivals to take on the fly are UDS & AP, sadly neither will be doing so, if they did we could have a vintage renewal potentially.