Cenkos, one of the leading novice chasers this season, takes on top two-miler Edredon Bleu at Punchestown tomorrow.
Trainer Oliver Sherwood also has Cenkos entered in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase at the Co. Kildare track on Thursday but has chosen to take on the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner in the BMW Chase instead.
"Certainly a big reason for the decision was the prospect of the ground drying out," explained Sherwood. "Cenkos is a much better horse on the soft and I think Edredon Bleu is beatable on the soft."
Following the sacking of stable jockey David Casey last week Jimmy McCarthy will renew his association with Cenkos, on whom he won at Warwick in February.
Since that victory Cenkos has finished second in the Arkle Challenge Trophy and landed the Grade One Sandeman Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.
Sherwood added: "He's over in Ireland now. He's fine and has been in great form since Aintree."
Also in the line-up for tomorrow's Grade One contest are Paul Webber's Flying Instructor and the Nicky Henderson-trained Get Real.
Local hopes rest with His Song, Jeffell and recent Fairyhouse winner Mr Baxter Basics.
The going at Punchestown is currently described as yielding to soft.
Charlie Egerton's Avanti Express, who ran well for a long way until his stamina gave out in the Irish Grand National, carries top weight of 12st in the Rohcon Construction Handicap Chase.
Webber runs General Pongo in the three-mile-one-furlong contest.
Docklands Limo represents the Whitbread Gold Cup-winning team of Nigel Twiston-Davies and Carl Llewellyn in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
One of the seven-year-old's six rivals tomorrow is Cheltenham Festival winner Sausalito Bay.
Henderson's Grecian Dart shoulders 12st in the Murphy International Ltd Handicap Hurdle, a race in which Bob Buckler runs Crack Regiment with Brendan Powell in the saddle.
Course spokesman Ritchie Galway said: "I've just walked the course and it's in good condition.
"The going is yielding to soft. The weather forecast is for it to remain settled for the week. The course is drying out so it could be yielding by the start of racing tomorrow."
Punchestown is bracing itself for its busiest meeting and Galway added: "We had 87,000 racegoers over the four days last year. We are aiming at 100,000 this time but we'll do well to beat last year's record."
