Ruby Walsh has opted to ride Faugheen in Tuesday's Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Walsh was in the enviable position of having to choose between Hurricane Fly, who has won more Grade Ones than any other National Hunt horse, or the red-hot favourite Faugheen.
Hurricane Fly has already won the Champion Hurdle twice, but has also been beaten in the race twice.
Faugheen is unbeaten to date, including point-to-points and bumpers, and ran away with the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago.
Trainer Willie Mullins, who will also be represented by Arctic Fire in the opening day’s feature race said: "Ruby has decided to ride Faugheen."
Walsh said: "You can only ride one in the Champion Hurdle and I think Faugheen is the one that is going to win.
"I think his younger legs might be the difference, but there is every chance I might be wrong.
"Their last bits of work were very good, but I have just come down in favour of Faugheen."
Mullins also confirmed that Annie Power, as expected, will take her chance in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle rather than the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
