Paul Townend has insisted that he is confident of producing a big challenge on Hurricane Fly ahead of Tuesday's Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ruby Walsh's decision to ride the unbeaten Faugheen means that Townend will be with the 11-year-old, and he is hopeful of getting the best out of Hurricane Fly, who triumphed in the race in 2011 and 2013.
"I suppose being realistic he's up against it. He's an 8-1 shot for a reason, but saying that he's been there, he's done it and he's in the form of his life at home," Townend, who has not ridden Hurricane Fly since winning the Irish Champion Hurdle in 2011, told BBC Sport.
"I'm just hoping for a big run, he'll try his best and it would be nice to win a third Champion Hurdle.
"A lot of it is just natural ability, but it's his will to win as well. He has the heart of a lion and he can just run faster than the rest of them. If you see him in the morning you wouldn't think he was an 11-year-old."
As well as Faugheen and Hurricane Fly, Willie Mullins will also be bidding for a win with Arctic Fire.
Callum Mulvihill
