Ball D'Arc must concede weight to each of his five rivals as he attempts to give Gigginstown House Stud a third consecutive win in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas on Saturday.
Gordon Elliott won the Grade Three with Tell Us More last year, 12 months on from the Willie Mullins-trained Devils Bride carrying the famous maroon and white silks to glory, and Elliott's Ball D'Arc has a 9lb penalty thanks to his two Grade Two victories towards the start of 2017.
Mullins saddles his chief threat in the shape of American Tom, who hasn't stood much racing but looked an exciting prospect before hitting the deck on his most recent appearance in January.
Ordinary World was an excellent servant for Henry de Bromhead last term and actually beat Ball D'Arc to second in a Punchestown Grade One, so has to enter the reckoning as well.
The Fishery Lane Hurdle also carries Grade Three honours and sees the return of Meri Devie, who wasn't far off the best juveniles last season.
Mullins' filly lacks the recent match-practice of Ex Patriot, though, with Ellmarie Holden's stable star having finished third in the Lartigue Hurdle and Istabraq Hurdle before a spin on the level.
High-class Flat stayer Pallasator takes on some leading bumper performers in the Hospitality At Naas Maiden Hurdle.
Now with Elliott, for whom he won a charity race recently, the giant eight-year-old has to contend with the likes of Paloma Blue, Next Destination and Someday on his jumping bow.
Red Jack tackles obstacles for the first time in the opening Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at 12.05, and Noel Meade's four-year-old looked the real deal in winning his two NH Flat starts earlier in the year.
Quality hurdlers Bacardys and Snow Falcon lock horns in the Paddy Power Fast & Convenient Phone Betting Beginners Chase, while useful chaser Kylecrue heads the weights for the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.
