Top mare Apple's Jade begins her campaign in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
The Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old took her Grade One haul to five with victories in the Hatton's Grace and Mares' Hurdle, as well as the Mares Champion Hurdle, last term and she returns at a slightly lower level over her optimum trip of two and a half miles.
Elliott is also responsible for Flaxen Flare and Duca De Thaix with the field completed by Monksland and Jer's Girl.
Elliott holds a strong hand in the other Grade Two on the card, TheTote.com Fortria Chase, with Clarcam and The Game Changer.
Henry de Bromhead's front-runner Alisier D'Irlande could give them most to think about.
Elliott has taken the hugely exciting Samcro out of the For Auction Novice Hurdle, leaving Morgan and Mengli Khan to fly the Cullentra flag in the Grade Three contest.
Willie Mullins sends his impressive Galway scorer Stratum, but the other three look out of their depth.
There won't be many higher rated hurdlers going over fences this season than Footpad, and he starts off in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
The Irish Champion Hurdle runner-up doesn't have the experience of Brelade, who has hit the crossbar on both starts in this sphere but wasn't as smart over the smaller obstacles as Footpad.
The Meath Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle gets proceedings under way at 12.35, and Sir Ector reverts to the winter game after struggling in the Irish Cesarewitch.
Carrigready and Swingbridge looks the ones to beat.
Lex Talionis pipped Champagne Pat at Punchestown just over three weeks ago and they renew rivalry in the St Johann Ski Resort Tirol Austria Handicap Hurdle.
Invincible Cave fetched 210,000 pounds after scoring between the flags and has his first start for Elliott in the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
