Trainer Dermot Weld reports Archive Footage in good form as he prepares to land consecutive victories in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown.
David Evans partnered the eight-year-old to a nine-length defeat of Daraheen Chief in last year's renewal and will be on board again on Saturday.
Archive Footage will be bidding to emulate Redundant Pal who won this contest in 1989 and 1990.
Weld said today: "Archive Footage worked well yesterday morning and is coming right just now.
"A competitive race with plenty of runners is what suits him best, and I expect him to be thereabouts on Saturday, particularly if the ground rides very soft."
David Casey will be free to ride leading fancy She's Our Mare in the £100,000 contest.
Casey has won five times from nine rides on the Tony Martin-trained seven-year-old, including in last season's Crowther Homes Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.
It had appeared that he would be required to ride for Oliver Sherwood in Britain on Saturday but the trainer has allowed the jockey to continue his association with the mare.
"Kindly he's let me off," Casey said. "Hopefully the ground won't be too heavy but with Theatreworld running there will be a lot of horses out of the handicap and she's definitely got a big chance."
Casey rates Knife Edge, who was set to finish second to Istabraq at Leopardstown last month until sprawling at the final flight, as the main danger to his mount.
"Obviously Knife Edge ran well and I think he deserves to be favourite after his run against Istabraq," the jockey said.
"I know they say they want better ground for Afarad but he has a big chance as well and I don't think you can rule out Mantles Prince either.
"But I wouldn't get off She's Our Mare for the world and we'll just hope for the best."
However, one trainer looking for a jockey is Pat Hughes after it was revealed that Paul Carberry would ride Native Dara for Noel Meade in the big race.
Carberry had been expected to ride Quinze for Hughes on Saturday, with Fran Berry aboard stablemate Mantles Prince.
However, Meade's assistant Gillian O'Brien confirmed: "Paul Carberry rides Native Dara while Philip Carberry rides Greenstead."
On the betting front the sponsors report that the best money today has been for She's Our Mare and have clipped her a point to 6-1. The Harrow firm have also pushed Afarad out to 9-2 who now shares favouritism with Knife Edge.
Ladbrokes: 9-2 Afarad, Knife Edge, 6-1 Geos, She's Our Mare, 11-1 Mantles Prince, 12-1 Archive Footage, 14-1 Native Dara, 16-1 Quinze, Golden Rule, Derrymoyle, 20-1 Bar.
William Hill: 4-1 Afarad, 11-2 Knife Edge, 6-1 She's Our Mare, 13-2 Geos, 9-1 Mantles Prince, 10-1 Archive Footage, Native Dara, 14-1 Golden Rule, 16-1 Derrymoyle, Quinze, 20-1 Bar.
Coral: 4-1 Afarad, 5-1 Knife Edge, 7-1 Geos, She's Our Mare, 11-1 Mantle's Prince, 14-1 Native Dara, Archive Footage, Golden Rule, 16-1 Master Beveled, Quinze, Derrymoyle, Boley Lad, Greenstead, Ajar, 20-1 Bar.
