Hurricane Fly: Hurdle 'legend' retires after nine-year career

Hurricane Fly has made £1.8m of career earnings in a nine-year career

Two-time Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly has been retired.

The 11-year-old gelding won a world-record 22 Group One races from 32 outings over the jumps.

The son of late Irish Derby winner Montjeu won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham twice and is regarded as one of National Hunt's greatest horses.

"What can you say about him? He's a legend of a horse," said Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who took on Hurricane Fly in 2008.

"This day was always going to come and it's great that we're doing it on our terms, rather than due to an injury or something like that."

It has yet to be decided where Hurricane Fly will spend his retirement, but he will make appearances at the Irish Champions Weekend in September.

Ruby Walsh, the 10-time Irish champion jockey who rode Hurricane Fly to 18 victories, said in his Paddy Power column: "Quite simply, Hurricane Fly is the best hurdler I have ever sat on.

"The only hurdler you can compare him to in my lifetime is Istabraq."