Clash Of The Titans For Morgiana

Make sure to strap yourself in ahead Sunday’s Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle, for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest clashes of the jumps season so far, courtesy of Jezki going head-to-head with the mighty, Hurricane Fly.

Jezki v Hurricane Fly
It’s a clash that no punter will want to miss: in one corner, Jezki, the reigning Champion Hurdle winner, while in the other, Hurricane Fly, who sets out this season to regain the championship he lost, while also looking to settle a few scores in the process.

But how do they bet? Well, at this stage the money has come for Jessica Harrington’s younger champion at 5/6, with Willie Mullins’ 10yo available at 11/10. There will be plenty of backers looking to snap-up the 11/10 for Hurricane Fly, though – a horse who has won 21 of his 26 hurdle races, including this race during the last two years.

However, there will be others wary of the fact that Jezki beat Hurricane Fly during their last two clashes in the spring, the first of which came when the former was made champion at Cheltenham.

Jezki beat Hurricane Fly to the tune of 5l that day, prior to a 3l defeat seven weeks later when they met over Sunday’s C&D.

While Hurricane Fly beat Jezki in two meetings prior to that last winter, the former has clearly improved since being fitted with a hood, and Jessica Harrington will want to carry on from where they left off last season by reminding Hurricane Fy who is boss.

The pair also dominate the market for Sunday, and both will be making their seasonal returns, which has been a positive in this race down the years…

Trends Summary

Of the last 10 Morgiana Hurdle winners…

10 winners had raced twice or more at Punchestown
9 were officially rated 150 or higher – others were 1-18
8 won 31% or more of their career hurdle runs
7 finished in the top two last time
7 made their seasonal reappearance (7-19, 37%) – others 3-26 (11%)
6 ran at Punchestown last time
W Mullins and N Meade both won it 3 times, C Byrnes twice

Outsiders
With the majority of past winners having been rated 150 or high, Colin Bowe’s improving 6yo, Little King Robin (10/1), is not far away from that mark on 145, and heads into this in sparkling form. Indeed, Little King Robin has now won five of his last six outings since August, culminating a successful step up to Grade 2 company at Down Royal last month (2m, yielding). Should one of the ‘big guns’ slip up, then he could offer good each-way value.

Lethal Weapon (100/1) and King Of The Picts (50/1) can be dismissed.

Recommended Bets
With the score currently standing at 2-2 between Jezki and Hurricane Fly, it will be interesting to see who emerges on top this Sunday, though Jezki is given the nod to make it three straight wins.