After finishing fourth to Hurricane Fly in the Hattons Grace, Mourad justified 7/4 market favouritism in the three mile Grade 2 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in emphatic fashion.

The Sinndar gelding scooped almost 30,000 euro for his two length victory over the battling Powerstation with two and a half lengths back to Rigour Back Bob in third.

Mourad received a quote of 14/1 for the World Hurdle from both William Hill and Sean Graham. With Hills he is 6/1 in the same race without Big Bucks

Trainer Willie Mullins, who was saddling his second winner of the day, said: "The race conditions suited him though I was afraid of the heavy ground. He will go for the stayers hurdle at Cheltenham but will maybe have one or two runs before then if I can find a race like that.

"Paul (Townend) gave him a smashing ride and he said that the ground was very heavy which wouldnt have suited Mourad at all."