Three-parts sister to Hurricane Fly to make Gowran debut

Blixt, a three-parts sister to legendary hurdler Hurricane Fly, is set to grace Gowran Park on Saturday as she makes her debut in a 2m1f bumper at the County Kilkenny track.

She is trained by Willie Mullins, the man who masterminded Hurricane Fly’s 22 victories at Grade 1 level including two editions of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

A five-year-old daughter of Yeats, Blixt was bred by Drumlin Bloodstock out of the winning Kenmare mare Scandisk and is a sister to the Mullins-trained Avichi, who has placed in bumpers on three occasions under his care.

She is also a half-sister to the Flat winners Thunderwing, Diskussion and Hunzy.

After showing high-class form on the Flat, Hurricane Fly made his first start for Mullins a winning one when he landed a two-mile maiden hurdle at Punchestown by an impressive 12 lengths in May 2008.

It might be a tall order to ask Blixt to follow in the son of Montjeu’s footsteps but under the guidance of Mullins she will be in safe hands.

Her sire Yeats, a 16-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells, will provide plenty of stamina influence as he developed into a great stayer for Aidan O’Brien. His seven victories at the highest level included a memorable four Gold Cups.

He stands at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud at a fee of €6,500.