Ruby Walsh will ride Hurricane Fly on the opening day of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. (credit: Will Palmer)
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Ruby Walsh will take over from Paul Townend on Hurricane Fly as Willie Mullins’ multiple Grade One winner looks to capitalize on the absence of Binocular in Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle.
Walsh had been on the sidelines for four months after suffering a serious injury at Down Royal in November and he hadn’t ridden a winner until Sandown on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Townend has been forging a sensational partnership with Hurricane Fly and has notched four Grade One victories on the bounce, sending the Irish raider to the Cheltenham Festival unbeaten this season.
After days of speculation, Mullins has finally given his thoughts on the matter and the handler explained: "I've decided that Ruby will ride Hurricane Fly. I ran it by the horse's owners and spoke with Ruby and with Paul, who will now ride our other Champion Hurdle runner Thousand Stars.
"Ruby is our number-one rider and it's good that he's fit and back in action and among the winners again."
Walsh hasn’t ridden Hurricane Fly since April 2009 but there won’t be too many punters disheartened to see the legendary jockey pick up the ride ahead of Tuesday’s feature.
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