Monalee© Photo Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead is confident the step back up in trip will play into the hands of Monalee in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.
The six-year-old, who finished second in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on his penultimate start over hurdles, will revert to three miles in the Grade One event after impressing over two and a half miles on his fencing debut at Punchestown.
"Monalee seems in good form. He is stepping back up in trip and we will see how he goes," said De Bromhead.
"He won over three miles at Clonmel and he was second over three miles in the Albert Bartlett, so he has good form over that trip. Going back over three will hopefully suit him.
"I thought his last run was nice. He jumped well and he seemed good. Davy Russell was happy with him.
"We had a couple of options, but this seemed the best one and we saw that he was pretty good last season. He is a lovely horse to do anything with."
Champion trainer Willie Mullins will be double-handed in his bid to win the race for a third time, leaving in Drinmore runner-up Rathvinden and last-time-out Punchestown scorer Bon Papa
Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "Rathvinden racked up a good sequence during the summer and ran really well in the Drinmore behind Death Duty. We think the step up in trip will bring about a bit more improvement from him.
"All the experience he picked up in the summer will hopefully stand him in good stead.
"Bon Papa was very impressive at Punchestown and a lot of his best form is on winter ground, so I think he will enjoy that.
"The trip is a little bit of an unknown as he won over two miles last time, but the way he settles and jumps should give him every chance over it.
"There were limited options for him over Christmas and we thought this would suit him best. We are expecting a big run."
Gordon Elliott will be represented by Dinaria Des Obeaux Mossback, Jury Duty and Shattered Love
The field is completed by Moulin A Vent from the yard of Noel Meade, and the Adrian Keatley-trained Thebarrowman
