The unbeaten Impaire Et Passe will be aiming to stamp his credentials in open company in Sunday’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the French import impressed with an Irish debut victory at Naas and went from strength to strength last season, recording Grade 1 success at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals - in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.
He will be joined by stablemate Ashroe Diamond, who will be partnered by Mullins' son and assistant trainer, Patrick.
"Impaire Et Passe obviously won over two and a half in Cheltenham and the Hatton's Grace was the obvious starting point," said Patrick Mullins.
"Stepping out of novice company is always difficult, but what he did to Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely in Cheltenham was a huge performance.
"We'll be disappointed if he got beaten, but Galopin Des Champs got beaten last weekend.
"Ashroe Diamond will run very well, with a view to going for the Mares' Hurdle later in the year," added Mullins, who rides the mare in the Hatton's Grace.
"My mother bred her, she's won in Aintree for the owners and won a Grade One in Fairyhouse.
"I thought her two runs behind Facile Vega and Marine Nationale last year were the two best runs by a mare last year. She's a long way out on ratings [on Sunday], but I think when she drops back to mares only company, she'll be giving everything plenty to think about."
Teahupoo will head the opposition, having won the contest twelve months ago for trainer Gordon Elliott, alongside stablemate Zanahiyr.
In an interview with Racing TV, Elliott said: "I've got Teahupoo and Zanahiyr in the Hatton's Grace and both horses have got good chances.
"Teahupoo on his form last year would probably be the pick of them, but whereas Zanahiyr wouldn't mind a bit of better ground, Teahupoo would want as much rain as he can get."
Paul Gilligan's Buddy One will complete the quintet, following an impressive success in handicap company during Cheltenham's November Meeting. The contest will represent the six-year-old's biggest test to date and Gilligan appears keen to take on the challenge:
"Isn't it great to have a horse to take on the big boys? That's what we all want, one of these horses, and we have one now and it's great.
"He's won at Fairyhouse. We won't get carried away, as we know exactly what's facing us if he steps up to take on these guys.
"Impaire Et Passe is going to be hard to beat, Teahupoo is going to be hard to beat, but he could beat them – who's to say he won't?"
