Mulllins reveals Irish Champion Hurdle plans

Willie Mullins has revealed that Arctic Fire and Diakali will join Hurricane Fly in Sunday’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 58-year-old Irish trainer is looking for his star 11-year-old to win the race for a fifth successive year and take his Grade 1 level win tally to 22 this weekend.

However, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki looks set to pose the biggest threat to Hurricane Fly, Mullins is hoping some of his stablemates can push him all the way too. Arctic Fire and Diakali are poised to feature, but Mullins has virtually ruled Faugheen out of the running.

He said: “I imagine Arctic Fire will come. I doubt Faugheen will come, but we’ll see.

“Hurricane Fly was in great order this morning, so hopefully we can get him to the track in that kind of order again on Sunday.

“To get a horse back to the racetrack five times is an achievement, to win each time is something else.

“Jezki is doing nothing wrong and it will be tough for him on Sunday, but it’s not just a two-horse race, as Arctic Fire is a young horse who is still improving.

“I don’t think I need to run Faugheen again before Cheltenham. I’m happy enough with him at home.”