Fading Fly

Winner of 14 from 17 over hurdles, placed in the other three. Hurricane Fly needs no introduction as one of the best two mile hurdlers of a generation, possibly ever. Only Injuries prevented a fuller list of accolades. He finally won the one that mattered most in a stirring lung-bursting battle with the most hardy, arguably most talented runner-up of the race since the Hardy and Brave years. As with that other iconic hurdler, Big Buck's, part of Hurricane Fly's supreme talent that season lay in robustness: he could have wilted after Cheltenham but instead was just as imperious back in his Native Ireland.

Last season saw the fade begin. Beset by niggling problems once again, he was unable to make the track until January. A one-step to the most grueling of battles is rarely ever enough and so it proved, besting the other much-vaunted decliner, Binocular, but unable to muster a challenge to the two hard-hats in front. Never traveling like he used to, he stuck at it, the resolution of a champion. It's true he edged out the limited Zaidpour in Ireland afterwards but there was little swagger on show, the swagger that so captured the imagination. 

Given that this season he reappeared with a win it might seem churlish to be forecasting his lesser powers. Forecasting has no sway with sentiment, especially in a brutal arena such as the festival. Nor does that opening win affect the narrative: again he seemed shackled too closely for comfort to a lesser force. Go Native, still a useful speedball rising 10, closed towards his more illustrious rival ready to launch a war before miss-stepping the last.

As mentioned before it is testament to the unnerving quality of Hurricane Fly that, despite a lackluster defence of his crown and his swagger curtailed on reappearance, he is favourite to regain the title of Best Around. But at the age of nine will he really progress again, improve again, really fly again? Or will he be grounded by the daunting-looking army of young and hungry 2m hurdlers set to make March a war with no trenches?

Unequivocally the latter. No right to waiver.