Hurricane Fly wins Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

CHELTENHAM, England (AP) - Hurricane Fly gave jockey Ruby Walsh his first win in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, beating Peddlers Cross in the showcase race of the opening day at Cheltenham.

The 11-4 favorite powered in front after the final hurdle to beat Peddlers Cross (9-2) by a length and a quarter. Oscar Whisky was third.

The Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly missed the Cheltenham Festival the last two years with injuries. Mullins said he was happy just to get the horse into the race this time, and that “the relief even when he left the parade ring was enormous.”

Mullins said he was “just delighted he got the chance to show what he can do.”

Walsh also won the first race of the day, when Al Ferof took the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.