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Willie Mullins has saluted the retiring Hurricane Fly as a "legend of a horse".

The champion trainer saddled his brilliant 11-year-old to a record 22 Grade One wins during a career spanning seven years in Ireland.

"He's come back into training and he's really well in himself, but having had a chat with the owners, they were keen enough to retire him while he is still in great order. What can you say about him? He's a legend of a horse. 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," Mullins told Press Association Sport.

"He's a horse who has everything - speed and stamina and an incredible bravery and aggressiveness. I think those are the key factors."

He added: "We've not decided what he's going to do yet. He's still here and was ridden out as normal this morning. He's still a handful and I've no doubt he's a rising 12-year-old with the mind of a six-year-old.

"He's going to the Curragh to parade on Irish Champions Weekend and he's also going to Merano in Italy to parade there at their big Gold Cup meeting in September.

"He's also just been invited to go to the big meeting at Milan in October, without them knowing he was going to be retired.

"We were invited last year but decided not to, but he can do that now."

Mullins pointed to his first triumph at Prestbury Park as his personal highlight.

He said: "Personally I would probably say his first Champion Hurdle in Cheltenham (was the best). Having missed Cheltenham the previous two years because of niggly injuries, it was great to get him there and win it.

"There was so many good days. Going back to Cheltenham to win another Champion Hurdle having lost one broke all sorts of records and statistics.

"I suppose in the last two years his battles with Jezki caught the public imagination. His longevity stood to him."

Hurricane Fly had many memorable battles with Jezki over the years, with the latter's trainer Jessica Harrington paying tribute to an "amazing" horse.

Harrington said: "Personally, I'm delighted he's retiring safe and sound and in one piece.

"He was an amazing horse to win all those races. That's testament to the horse's longevity, but also Willie's training of him.

"We thought last season, with Jezki having beaten him twice (Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and Racing Post Champion Hurdle at Punchestown), that he (Hurricane Fly) would be kicked out of the way.

"It obviously didn't work out that way as I had to wait until Punchestown (Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle) before we could beat him again.

"He was a great flag-bearer for Irish racing."

Hurricane Fly will always be associated with Ruby Walsh, with the multiple Irish champion jockey hailing his partner as "the best hurdler I have ever sat on".

Speaking in his blog for Paddy Power, Walsh said: "It was a decision we knew was coming - but it's still strange to be talking about Hurricane Fly's retirement.

"I stayed out of the process and left it to Willie Mullins and the owners to make the call. If it was (left) to me it would have been a really hard call to make still.

"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.

"The Fly was back in training and still looks a million dollars. But the bold and brave choice had to be made on whether to retire him or go on for another season. But I'm sure when the news sinks in fully, it was the right decision.

"He was some horse and his record speaks for itself. Of his 22 Grade One wins - five of them came at Leopardstown and he was unbeaten at the Dublin track.

"We had some great battles there, particularly against Jezki in the last couple of seasons, but there were those who thought he was finished at one stage a couple of seasons ago.

"He was as good as ever last season and was still winning proper Grade Ones contests - not the 'gimmes' or walkovers that some would have you believe his career consisted of.

"There was also a school of thought that said that Cheltenham didn't really suit him.

"Really? He'd already won two Champion Hurdles and I was still thinking about him as a Champion Hurdle contender last season - even at 11 years old. He ran a blinder to finish a six-length third to the much younger Faugheen in last season's opening day feature at Cheltenham.

"I'm sure if the Fly wasn't around I would have made my mind up on riding Faugheen much earlier - but it says something that the decision went down to the wire.

"That was a real testament to Hurricane Fly's courage, his will to win.

"His longevity and durability is what will mark him out as one of the true greats in jumps racing.

"I've been so lucky with horses like Hurricane Fly, Kauto Star and Big Buck's because without them I wouldn't have had the career I've had. Any jockey will tell you that you're only as good as the horses you ride.

"For me I got to ride the best two-mile hurdler (Hurricane Fly) and chaser (Kauto Star) of my era.

"And it's fitting that Hurricane Fly retires from racing where he always was on the track - at the top."