WILLIE Mullins believes punters will see a much-improved
Hurricane Fly (right)
in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29.
The nine-year-old set a new record for Grade One wins over jumps with a 17th success at the highest level in the Morgiana Hurdle on his comeback but he failed to impress many observers.
Mullins said: "it was great to win his 17th Grade One in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. "It was probably his least impressive performance, but he will come on enormously for that. "He loves it around Leopardstown and he has won six times around there. "He will go back there for the Grade One Ryanair Festival Hurdle on the final day of the festival. "Everything is geared towards retaining his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham."
A mouthwatering clash is in store as last season's Triumph Hurdle winner Our Conor is due to have his first start of the campaign.
The four-year-old gelding sustained minor injuries after he ran in a Flat handicap at Naas in October.
Trainer Dessie Hughes said: "i have been very happy with him and he was only held up for about 10 days after Naas, which was unfortunate as i would have liked to have run him in the Morgiana. He is 100 per cent and he'll go straight to Leopardstown at Christmas."