The winner of the Horse & Jockey Hotel Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles has an impossible act to follow.
For the past two years, the horse successful in the Grade Three contest has gone on to lift that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Sizing John emulating Don Cossack's 2016 blue riband triumph 12 months later.
None of the five runners on Sunday holds a Gold Cup entry, but the Willie Mullins-trained American Tom is in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase, although he will need to step forward from his return to action when he could manage only third in the Poplar Square over two miles.
Along with the long-absent Nambour, American Tom is in receipt of 8lb from the reliable pair of A Toi Phil and Woodland Opera, while Arctic Skipper makes his first appearance since the 2016 Lexus.
There are Grade Two honours up for grabs in the Coolmore National Hunt Sires Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase, with Mullins relying on his Limerick scorer Kate Appleby Shoes.
She will do well to successfully concede 7lb to Dinaria Des Obeaux, though, with Gordon Elliott's five-year-old having her sights lowered after struggling in a couple of Grade Ones.
Six of the eight contenders for the W.T. O'Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle arrive in winning form so it is potentially an informative affair.
Hat-trick seekers Beyond The Law and Dom Dolo face off with the Mullins pair of Burrows Saint and Sympa Des Flos, as well as Terence O'Brien's well-regarded Articulum and Elliott's promising Dortmund Park.
Saglawy had a touch of class on the level in France, and he has his first outing for Mullins in the opening www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle (1.20).
Cubomania goes for a three-timer in the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, while old favourites Foxrock and Gilgamboa take each other on in the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase.
