Prized asset: Hurricane Fly is being tipped to triumph in the Dobbins & Madigans Hurdle

THE Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly makes his eagerly-awaited return to action in the Grade One Dobbins & Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle and the presence of last season's exceptional novice in the line-up appears to have frightened away most of the opposition.

Successful in three Grade One races last term Hurricane Fly has to contend with just three rivals, but they include the Charles Byrnes-trained Solwhit, the horse who dethroned the Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi in a tight finish to the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. Solwhit was also successful in the Aintree Hurdle last spring and Byrnes commented: "He's just ready for his first run of the season, but will come on for the race. He won in similar ground at the Festival so the going should be alright for him."

Nevertheless, Davy Russell's mount has been found out by testing ground in the past, which suggests that Hurricane Fly, from the in-form Willie Mullins stable, may come out on top.

The trainer's runners are proving themselves well capable of winning on their seasonal reappearance, which augurs well for last season's good bumper performer Sicilian Secret in Cork's paddypower.com EBF Maiden Hurdle and Lillywhitedancer in the paddypower.com EBF Beginners Chase.

Sizing Europe, from the Henry de Bromhead stable, looks a very exciting recruit to the chasing ranks and should not be opposed in Punchestown's Grade Two Craddockstown Novice Chase. He has won both his starts over fences, most recently over this course and the return to the minimum trip is expected to suit.

The Paul Nolan-trained Clan Tara holds most appeal in the opening Grade Three Florida Pearl Novice Chase. A smart novice hurdler last term he made a highly promising start to his chasing career when beaten only a head by Pandorama over this course last time and further improvement can be expected.

Meanwhile at Cork, the Willie Mullins bandwagon is expected to continue courtesy of Our Monty in the paddypower.com Cork Grand National Handicap Chase. The six-year-old has been successful in both his starts for the trainer and gets the vote to make a successful return to fences over a trip that still represents unknown territory for him.

Recent Thurles winner Better Times is fancied to trump Fennis Boy in the paddypowermobile.com (P/A) INH Flat Race to give rookie trainer Denis Cullen the first winner of his training career, while runaway Limerick scorer Warne should prove to be victorious in the Dial-A-Bet 1800 721 821 EBF Novice Hurdle.