Hurricane Fly has cemented his position at the top of markets for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham after his third successive win in the Irish equivalent.

Never off the bridle in recording his 14th Grade One win, Hurricane Fly is now around 3-1 to regain his championship title at Cheltenham.

Stablemate Thousand Stars and Paul Townend made it a decent gallop in atrocious conditions at Leopardstown on Sunday, but when Ruby Walsh made his move rounding the home turn, the result was never in doubt.

Binocular travelled well for a long way but Tony McCoy's mount was soon left in Hurricane Fly's wake and just failed to get past Thousand Stars for second.

Hurricane Fly (1-6 favourite) won by five lengths.

"I thought it was a very good performance. It was a good even gallop, he travelled well, he jumped well and he moved away effortlessly from Paul's horse (Thousand Stars)," Walsh told At The Races.

"In fairness to Binocular he hadn't run for so long so he was bound to be a bit fresh the way he ran. We had fitness on our side and we were going to use it.

"This year he's had a longer and deeper preparation. He's probably a fitter horse than he was last year.

"Hopefully that will stand him in good stead in March."

Trainer Willie Mullins has been much happier with Hurricane Fly this season and is looking forward to Cheltenham where he could finish only third last year.

"When you look at the race it was a tip-top race. Binocular has won a Champion Hurdle, Thousand Stars has won two French Champion Hurdles and Captain Cee Bee won a Supreme," Mullins said.

"Everything had gone 100 per cent in his preparation."

"I've had faith in him all year and he seems to be in the sort of form he was two years ago."