Jockey Paul Townend is confident that three-time Grade 1 winning novice Klassical Dream will handle a step up in company in this weekend's Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. 

His trainer Willie Mullins has enjoyed success in the last eight renewals of the Grade One contest and he'll also saddle Sharjah in the race.

Townend, who has become Mullins' number one rider since Ruby Walsh's retirement, feels Klassical Dream can justify favouritism to land the prize.

"Klassical Dream has to step up to the big league now as he steps out of being a novice last season but hopefully he can do that.

"He was very impressive on all his starts last season and he seems to be the real deal, but he has to prove that now in against the big boys."

"I loved him when I won on him at Leopardstown last season," Townend added.

"He made a mess of the last hurdle and he galloped away to the line again. He always showed us at home that he was a bit above average. The Morgiana Hurdle fits in nicely to his season and it's a good place to start.

"I actually got beat on Hurricane Fly in the Morgiana Hurdle to Solwhit," the jockey recalled.

"Klassical Dream is a completely different horse. Hurricane Fly was a flat horse with loads of speed whereas Klassical Dream is more of a National Hunt type, probably more like Faugheen.

"If Klassical Dream can do half of what either Hurricane Fly or Faugheen did he wouldn't be doing a bad job! But in this game we are always looking for potential and the potential is there with Klassical Dream and I'm really looking forward to Punchestown at the weekend."