Florida Pearl begins what could be his final assault on the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup when he has his first race for almost nine months at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The 12-year-old faces eight rivals in the Normans Grove Chase over two miles and one furlong after missing an intended clash with Best Mate in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas because of a slight setback.
Willie Mullins's charge, who has not raced since finishing unplaced at the Punchestown Festival last spring, has yet to win at Fairyhouse but he did finish second to Moscow Express on his only appearance there in April 2001.
Florida Pearl has run three times in the Cheltenham Gold Cup finishing third to See More Business in 1999, second the following year to Looks Like Trouble and 11th behind Best Mate in 2002.
The distance of Sunday's race is likely to be too short for Tony Martin's Martell Cognac Grand National prospect Davids Lad. He was denied a crack at the Aintree spectacular last April having been banned from racing for 42 days following a run at Naas in February.
The 10-year-old had his first public outing since May when a distant fifth to Barrow Drive over two and three-quarter miles at Tramore on New Year's Day.
Ted Walsh has declared his smart performer Rince Ri, who fell in the Ericsson Chase. Other opposition includes the Noel Meade-trained duo Arctic Copper and Beachcomber Bay, plus Michael O'Brien's Knife Edge.