Since joining Mullins in May 2008 Hurricane Fly has always looked a potential Champion Hurdle winner and he ran out a mightily impressive winner of the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle, his second consecutive Grade 1 victory.
Sent off the 11/4 second favourite behind his regular rival Solwhit, who had the benefit of race experience after a winning seasonal debut at Punchestown, the 6 year-old's superior flat speed proved too much for Charles Byrne's charge, who finished a gallant second.
The 1 1/2 length success in the 2m 4f contest seemed to surprise Mullins, who said: "I thought Solwhit would definitely have a fitness edge on this sort of ground. The likes of Punchestown where the ground is good you can get away with it if you're less fit, but on this sort of ground it tells.
"I was more than surprised that he was able to come out with a performance like that today. Paul got him back for a breather. He pulled too hard for the first mile and three-quarters. I thought he would flatten out about the last, but he jumped it like a professional and put his head down."
Leopardstown's Festival Hurdle over Christmas, followed by the Irish Champion Hurdle on 23rd January would be the logical progression towards a trip to Cheltenham in March, for the ex-French trained gelding.
Champion Hurdle race sponsors Stan James reacted by shortening the horse to 7/2 favourite, but others were less impressed and William Hill are currently offering a stand-out 11/2.
Colm Murphy was delighted with Voler La Vedette's performance to take third. The mare put her best work in at the finish to claim minor honours and her main target is likely to be the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, in which she was third to Quevega last spring.
"I was delighted with her, she ran a cracker. When she settles she is a really good mare and she settled really well for Andrew (Lynch)," said the County Wexford trainer. "I'm not sure where she'll go next but she'll probably have to take on the big boys again. The mares' race again at Cheltenham would look to be a target."
She is currently best-price 5/1 (Victor Chandler) for the Mares' contest in March.
In our Cheltenham Festival ante-post portfolio last week we recommended backing Zaidpour at 12/1 for the 2011 Supreme Novices Hurdle, and that price has now long gone after he coasted to victory in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
Paul Townend settled the exciting four-year-old, 4/7 favourite for the contest, at the rear of the six-runner field, where he comfortably went about his business before blitzing the opposition in the straight.
Despite a minor blunder at the second-last, Zaidpour remained on the bridle and drew comfortably clear at the last flight to win with an authority that will thrill race fans and unnerve rival connections in equal measure.
Mullins said: "I'm very happy with that. He was a bit novicey at first but once he settled he jumped well. We'll look at the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown (on December 27) and probably go there for the experience.
Bookmakers reaction was to cut Zaidpour into clear second-favouritism (behind Cue Card) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, for which he is now best-price 5/1 (Paddy Power).
Mullins and jockey Paul Townend completed their Fairyhouse three-timer when Golden Silver ran out a ready winner of the Hilly Way Chase, beating Zaarito by four and a half lengths.
Golden Silver had pleased Mullins with his second to Champion Chase winner Big Zeb at Navan last month and Townend had few concerns aboard the eight-year-old, who scooted clear after jumping the last.
It was a second win in the race for Golden Silver, who was trimmed to best-price 14/1 (William Hill) for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.
It wasn't quite the perfect day for Mullins and Townend, as Mikael D'Haguenet, winner of the 2009 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival, suffered a crashing, last-fence fall in the Drinmore Novice Chase.
The six-year-old, who was making his first start in almost 600 days and his first run over fences outside France, was travelling well alongside winner Jessies Dream and looked to be the stronger of the pair before crumpling upon landing at the last after appearing to lose his footing.
Mullins said: "His inexperience came against him at the last where he just stumbled on landing after jumping well. Hopefully he'll learn from it and it won't affect his confidence. That's novice chasing."
He was given a clean bill of health on Thursday and remains second favourite for the RSA Chase in March at best-price 8/1 (Paddy Power).
Mikael D'Haguenet - a potential superstar
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