How the Hurricane was rocked to his core by the mighty Ruby

Cheltenham's greatest giant-killings

Rock On Ruby beats Hurricane Fly
Champion Hurdle, 2012

Willie Mullins' winter of discontent with Hurricane Fly had been long forgotten by the time the reigning champion lined up as 4-6 favourite for the 2012 Stan James Champion Hurdle.

An almost nine-month absence since the previous season's Punchestown festival romp had raised doubts about the tigerish eight-year-old's wellbeing, but such fears were quashed when he readily won his second Irish Champion Hurdle six weeks before his Cheltenham follow-up bid.