Jezki stays strong to blow away Fly

Jezki appreciated the step up to three miles for the first time when landing the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown, and in the process took the measure of his old rival Hurricane Fly

Jezki (5/2) was sent past his half-brother Jetson early in the straight, and Ruby Walsh produced Hurricane Fly to throw down his challenge going to the last.

However Mark Walsh had a two-length lead on Jezki and, despite a slight mistake at the last, he kept on really well on the run-in to score by a length and three quarters from the 6/4 favourite.

The pair stretched eight lengths clear of Zabana in third.

The head-to-head score between Hurricane Fly and Jezki now stands at 6-3.

Mrs Harrington said, "€œHe pulled and tugged Mark the whole way but I'€™ve never seen him jump so well as he did today. He was making up ground at every hurdle and he did see out the three miles really well.

"He's an amazing horse for me to have. He's basically very straight-forward. He does like the spring with a bit of nice ground and the sun on his back. He's a better horse now than in the winter.

"€œMark gave him an absolutely terrific ride and I'm really pleased for him. Punchestown is the local racecourse and I love having winners here.

"We re-routed him here as he's been beaten by Faugheen, Hurricane Fly and Arctic Fire so we decided to try something new. All the family stayed really well.

"At Cheltenham things didn't go right for him. It was run at a slow pace, Ruby dictated and he was probably a bit keen.

"€œAP said that if he'd rode him for second he would have been second but he was trying to win the race and it didn't work out.

"€œUp until the last two runs it would have been a disappointing season but he's won two Grade 1's now so we can't say it's too bad.

"€œLets see what next season brings, it's a long way off. None of the family really jumped fences very well so I think we'll keep him over hurdles for the moment."

€Walsh, who picked up a one day ban under Reg 10.3(e) for hitting the horse in a wrong place, said "€œHe was keen all the way, and I was worried he wouldn’t get home. I gave him a breather before the straight, and he quickened up well going down to the last.

"Going that bit slower probably helped him to jump well, although he always seems to make a mistake at the last when he’s under pressure."

Willie Mullins on Hurricane Fly, "€œHe’s fine. He probably didn’t jump as fluent down the back as the winner and that’s the difference as there is very little between them. It was Jezki’s day and fair play to him."

€(GC & AM)