Hurricane Fly tops Champion acceptors

Hurricane Fly will face a maximum of seven rivals as he attempts to win back-to-back renewals of the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old finally made it to Cheltenham in March and showed British racegoers what they had been missing with a scintillating display in the Champion Hurdle.

He is on course to meet Nicky Henderson’s 2010 Champion Binocular, who is on a redemption mission after flopping at Aintree.

Mullins could have four runners in the race with Blackstairmountain, Thousand Stars and Quevega all still possibles, although Quevega is likely to run in the three-miler.

Menorah is another British challenger looking to bounce back after he finishing fifth at Cheltenham.

A surprising acceptor is Alan Fleming’s Starluck who has been novice chasing recently.

Edward O’Grady’s five-year-old Alaivan is another possible while Dunguib and Voler La Vedette were among those taken out.