The mighty Faugheen is a red-hot favourite to extend his unbeaten record to 10 in the Queally Group Celebrating 35 Years In Naas Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
Willie Mullins' superstar has justified favouritism on every single one of his previous outings under Rules, most recently when strolling away from his Champion Hurdle opponents at Cheltenham.
Stable companion Arctic Fire got closest to him that day and is fancied to chase him home again, despite a subsequent Aintree tumble, because Jezki s first preference at the meeting is Thursday's three-miler and Dell' Arca and Tiger Roll are out of their depth.
With four of the seven runners in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle, Mullins again holds all the aces.
The primary hope from Closutton is Nichols Canyon, who put his Neptune defeat behind him by claiming his third Grade One of the campaign at Aintree.
The champion trainer is also mob-handed as he tries to land the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fillies Scheme Fillies Premier Bumper INH Flat Race, and the market will surely provide the best guide to their claims.
On The Fringe strives to strike at his third festival this spring in the Racing Post Champion Hunters Chase.
Enda Bolger's 10-year-old laughed at his Cheltenham rivals before taking to the Grand National fences with aplomb at Liverpool.
There is a strong British assault on the EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase, headed by Irish Cavalier and Thomas Crapper, who fought out the finish of the novice handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and Irish Cavalier acquitted himself well in Grade One company here on Tuesday.
The juvenile Theophilus is an interesting contender for the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle, while the meeting gets under way with the KFM Hunters Chase (3.40), with Rohan's Pride heading the weights as he tries to back up last year's success.
