Sizing John will cement his position as the top staying chaser in training if he can lift the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.
Just short of the very best over two miles, the Jessie Harrington-trained seven-year-old has been a revelation since being upped in distance and added the Cheltenham Gold Cup to the Irish Gold Cup he won a month earlier with a classy display at Prestbury Park.
Taking him on again is Cheltenham fourth Djakadam, who has been second in this race for the past two years, as well as Gold Cup also-rans Outlander and Champagne West.
Sizing John's most interesting rival, however, is Coneygree, Mark Bradstock's pride and joy who has been plagued by injury problems since his Gold Cup triumph in 2015 but has been aimed at this for some time.
Three Cheltenham Festival winners lock horns in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.
Penhill claimed the Albert Bartlett in the Cotswolds and takes on Pertemps Final hero Presenting Percy and Champagne Classic, who won the Martin Pipe race for Gordon Elliott.
Elliott saddles Champion Bumper winner Fayonagh as she attempts to follow up in the Racing Post Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.
After fluffing the start, Jamie Codd rode a quiet race on the mare and that patience was rewarded as he produced a remarkable performance to storm past all of her rivals up the hill.
Last year's winner Irish Cavalier is back for more in the Guinness Handicap Chase and shares top weight with Devils Bride, while Shamiran goes for an incredible fourth victory in the opening Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle (3.40).
Title rivals Willie Mullins and Elliott have two each in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle, with Battleford and C'est Jersey going for the reigning champion and Elliott saddling Milsean and Minella Till Dawn.
Mullins should also have high hopes for Mystic Theatre in the Grade Three Weatherbys General Stud Book EBF Mares Flat Race.
