Hurricane Fly and Jezki served up a thriller in the featured Grade One Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown with 'The Fly'€™ prevailing by half a length from his old rival.

The statistics make awesome reading - this was his 21st Grade One success, his fourth Ryanair Hurdle and he is unbeaten at Leopardstown with a perfect record of nine from nine.

The 10-year-old was sent off the 5/6 favourite compared with 11/8 on offer for Jezki.

Spectators got what they wanted as the big two were locked together on the run to the last. Both jumped it well, however, Hurricane Fly began to edge ahead on the run-in under a drive from Ruby Walsh.

Just half a length separated the familiar foes (racing against each other for the sixth time) at the winning post amid the roars of the crowd. Arctic Fire the Mullins second-string at 25/1, ran a cracker in third as he stayed on to be beaten a length and three parts by the winner.

Willie Mullins said: "There is a fantastic atmosphere here and it was a fantastic race just to watch.

"It was a superbly run race. JPs horses had the advantage tactically. I told Ruby to ride him as you find him and don't try and beat Jezki.

"Coming to the final flight Fly always gets a good jump but Jezki got a fantastic one as well. When he got over the last he put his ears back and no horse I've ever seen can battle like him.

"When he got his head in front he kept it there and he's just a professional. Fly is just never finished. He got up beside him and he just toughed it out all the way to the line on drying ground. I think it was probably the driest ground he has encountered.

"Ruby said he jumped a shadow at the first and landed on it. He had a bit of gorse stuck in his girth coming back in which must have been uncomfortable for him.

"He didn't look happy going away on the bend from the stands and it took him until about the mile to warm up.

"We expected Jezki to be better today but we knew we were better as well. There is not much between them."

When asked if he was the best he's had he replied: "I think he's the best anyone has ever trained over jumps. I'll never have another horse like him.

"We're always trying to find the next one coming alone but I don't think I have anything like him.

"Faugheen is seven from seven but he has a long way to go. Hopefully we find another one but he's unique.

"Last year people were asking me would he be retired but I said 'no why'.

"He had two less than good runs but any horse is allowed that. I thought if the ability was still there there was no question and he was showing at home that the zest for racing was still there.

"We probably didn't do enough with him in the second half of last season. We were training him like he was when he was still keen but he's not like that now. We rectified that now.

"I'm enjoying his wins more now as there is not the pressure there used to be."

Ruby Walsh said: "He landed on the first hurdle. It was a really good race, they were building the pace down the back and it became a test of stamina. He has a heart as big as a lion. He dug in, he'€™s a little terrier.

"You have to commend Willie, Gail Carlisle and Paul Townend to have him at the peak of his powers for so long. There's a helluva lot of work goes on with him at home.

"It takes two horses to make a race and Jezki turned up. Irish racegoers appreciate a good horse."

Joint owner Frank Boyd said: "Every time we turn up it'€™s unbelievable. The team has worked so well together."

Paddy Power kept Jezki at 6/1 for the Champion Hurdle and also left Hurricane Fly unchanged at 12/1.

The same firm priced Hurricane Fly at 4/6 for the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle with Jezki at 6/4 for that contest.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson