Hurricane Fly could face as many as six rivals when the superstar tackles Sunday's BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

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Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old has won his last three starts and the French import is finally getting an injury free campaign ahead of a trip to Cheltenham in March.

Mullins explained he is "very happy with the horse going into the race," where he will clash with long-term rival Solwhit who tasted success in the race twelve months ago.  He has finished behind Hurricane Fly on each of his last three starts and trainer Charles Byrne doesn’t envisage a reversal on Sunday afternoon.

"Solwhit is going to run in the Irish Champion,” Byrnes explained.

"He has come out of the Paddy Power Festival Hurdle very well when the race turned into a sprint.

"He would have preferred more of a gallop, although he would still not have beaten Hurricane Fly but they would then probably have been a long way ahead of the third.

"The chances of beating Hurricane Fly on Sunday are very, very slim as Hurricane appears to be settling better in his races now and he is much better at the end of his races than he previously was.

"But there is good prize-money - 22,000 euro for second place - but that won't be easy as there are a few other good ones in it.  It looks a cracking race."

**BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle - Coral
8-13 Hurricane Fly, 3-1 Solwhit, 5-1 Dunguib, 16-1 Voler La Vedette, 20-1 Thousand Stars, 25-1 Sublimity