PLENTY OF GOOD horses will run at Punchestown this week, some of them genuine champions, but it is long odds against anything generating as much anticipation for the future as Hurricane Fly managed by winning yesterday’s first Grade One on the card.

Having his first start in four months, and coming off an injury, not to mention appearing to get overly-excited before the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, the Willie Mullins-trained star still managed to rout his opposition by seven lengths and propel himself to favouritism for next year’s Champion Hurdle.

It wasn’t as if everything in the race itself went smoothly either. His stable companion, Kempes, who finished runner-up, has clearly never heard of the concept of team tactics as he got in Hurricane Fly’s way before the straight and continued to be a nuisance on the run to the last.

David Casey’s whip struck the 4 to 6 favourite across the nose and Ruby Walsh had to secure Hurricane Fly a run between Fosters Cross and Kempes before eventually getting clear daylight.

However, the response was exhilaratingly impressive, not that Mullins and Walsh were surprised by that. “He did a piece of work last week that blew me and Ruby out of the water,” Mullins said.

“After his bone splint injury, we were hoping to get him back to the form he showed at Christmas. But he showed us he had improved again and this proves it,” added Mullins.

Asked if he views Hurricane Fly as a future Champion Hurdle winner, Mullins grinned: “I see him as a Champion Hurdle contender!”

The bookmakers certainly agreed with one firm making Hurricane Fly as low as 7 to 2 for Cheltenham 2010.