Last Updated on August 15, 2026
When the talk turns to the greatest hurdlers of all time, one name never drifts far from the conversation. Hurricane Fly was not the biggest horse in the Mullins yard, nor was he the most straightforward, but he was relentless.
Season after season he turned up at the very top level, brushing aside challengers and rewriting the record books. By the time he stepped off the stage in 2015, he had left behind a career that will be spoken of for as long as Cheltenham roars in March.
From France to Closutton
Hurricane Fly’s story didn’t begin over hurdles. Bred in Ireland, he was by Montjeu, a stallion better known for producing Derby winners than Champion Hurdlers. He started his career in France on the Flat, winning two races in provincial company. Talented, yes, but not destined to light up Longchamp.
That all changed when he was bought to go hurdling and sent to Willie Mullins in Ireland. It was at Closutton that the raw material was polished into something remarkable. Mullins spotted straight away that the colt had a turn of foot that would suit the two-mile hurdle division, provided he could be kept sound and settled.
The Rise of a Champion
Hurricane Fly first announced himself as a hurdler of rare quality when winning the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2008. Even then, his sharp acceleration stood out. Injuries meant his progress wasn’t always smooth, but when he was right, he was devastating.
His first Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham came in 2011. Ruby Walsh delivered him with perfect timing, and the Fly surged clear up the hill to beat Peddlers Cross. The roar that followed told you a new star had arrived. Two years later, he returned to reclaim the crown in 2013, showing the kind of resilience that defined his career.
| Race | Years Won | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Champion Hurdle | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 | 5 |
| Punchestown Champion Hurdle | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 | 4 |
| December Festival Hurdle (Ryanair Hurdle) | 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 | 4 |
| Morgiana Hurdle | 2012, 2013, 2014 | 3 |
| Champion Hurdle (Cheltenham) | 2011, 2013 | 2 |
| Hatton’s Grace Hurdle | 2010 | 1 |
| Royal Bond Novice Hurdle | 2008 | 1 |
| Future Champions Novice Hurdle | 2008 | 1 |
| Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle | 2009 | 1 |
A Record Like No Other
What sets Hurricane Fly apart is not just the Champion Hurdles, but the sheer number of Grade 1s he racked up. By the time he retired, he had won 22 at the highest level, more than any other National Hunt horse in history. That tally included five Irish Champion Hurdles, four Punchestown Champion Hurdles, and a string of Christmas Festivals at Leopardstown.
He did it against top-class rivals too. Rock On Ruby, Binocular, The New One, Jezki, My Tent Or Yours, and later Faugheen — Hurricane Fly faced them all. Sometimes he came out on top, sometimes he didn’t, but he always came back for another crack.
Not Built Like a Champion
What made the Fly’s achievements even more remarkable was his size. He was a small, compact horse, hardly the imposing type you expect to dominate a division. Yet that worked to his advantage. He was nimble at his hurdles, able to adjust quickly when others got caught out. And when Ruby Walsh pressed the button, he had a finishing kick that belonged on a flat racing track rather than over jumps.
Those who worked with him often spoke of his character. He wasn’t always easy at home, and he had his quirks, but once he went to the races, he was all business. The crowds warmed to that mix of determination and brilliance, and he became one of the most popular hurdlers of the modern era.
The Rivalries and the Roars
Every great horse needs rivals, and Hurricane Fly had plenty. His battles with Jezki at Cheltenham became part of Festival folklore. He was beaten by him in the 2014 Champion Hurdle, then came back at Punchestown to take revenge. His duels with The New One and Rock On Ruby kept the two-mile division crackling with excitement through the early 2010s.
And then there was Faugheen. By the time the younger horse came through in 2015, it was clear the torch was being passed on. Hurricane Fly, by then an 11-year-old, had nothing left to prove, yet still he kept on fighting, even finishing third to Faugheen in his final Champion Hurdle run.
Retirement and Life After Racing
In August 2015, Willie Mullins announced that Hurricane Fly would not race again. The decision came with a mixture of sadness and pride. Racing fans knew they were saying goodbye to one of the greats, but also that he had given everything.
He was sent to the Irish National Stud, where he has spent retirement as a crowd favourite, meeting visitors who come to see the little bay who took on the best and so often beat them. Just like Istabraq before him, his name will always be tied to the Champion Hurdle and to the golden winters of Irish hurdling.
Where He Stands in History
Comparisons in racing can be unfair, but they are inevitable. Istabraq had three Champion Hurdles. See You Then had three as well. Hurricane Fly won two, but his consistency across nearly a decade is what sets him apart. No horse in National Hunt history has matched his tally of Grade 1 victories, and that stat alone cements his place among the immortals.
For fans who watched him, it wasn’t just the numbers that mattered. It was the style, the way Ruby Walsh would hold him and hold him, and then unleash that burst of pace that left rivals flat-footed. It was the thrill of seeing him return year after year, never backing down, never shirking a battle.
The Little Horse Who Conquered All
Hurricane Fly may not have had the towering presence of a Kauto Star or the flamboyance of Sprinter Sacre, but he had something just as valuable: heart, resilience, and a record that will take some beating.
When future generations ask who was the greatest hurdler, the debate will rage. But one thing is certain: Hurricane Fly’s name will always be part of the answer.
