Last year's winner God's Own and stablemate Sir Valentino will form a two-pronged challenge for Tom George in the BoyleSports Champion Chase at Punchestown on April 25.

God's Own lowered the colours of Vautour in the two-mile Grade One 12 months ago on the back of victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

However, it is a different scenario this time as God's Own put in a rare below-par performance in defence of that crown when a well-beaten fifth to Fox Norton.

George reports the nine-year-old to be back his best now and is looking forward to taking both him and Sir Valentino to Ireland next week.

Sir Valentino finished two places ahead of God's Own when third to Special Tiara in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

"They are both entered there. God's Own probably didn't run to form at Aintree. He was a bit flat, He was a bit sore when he came back," said the Slad handler.

"The vets and the physio have done plenty of work with him and he's bouncing again, so maybe there was a little blip, but he just wasn't quite himself. He was a bit lacklustre and wasn't moving quite as well. Hopefully he can put that behind him.

"He's fine. He cantered away on Saturday morning. I don't know what he did at Aintree, maybe gave himself a bang or whatever, but he's on course for Ireland.

"Sir Valentino is very much on target for Punchestown."