The opposition is starting to queue to take on Boss Doyle in Wednesday's Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown and they will be headed in the weights by the English-trained Fiddling The Facts.
The Liverpool winner, Boss Doyle, tops the limited handicap on 12st but Nicky Henderson's yard confirmed Fiddling The Facts a runner in the £60,000 contest with a spokesperson saying: "The soft ground should suit her. She's basically been fine since her last race at Aintree and Mick Fitzgerald rides."
One trainer who is hoping the ground doesn't turn too soft though is Tom Taaffe who has the Power Gold Cup winner Delphi Lodge in the Heineken and also the Bradstock Insurance Novice Chase over two and a half miles on Tuesday.
"If the ground turns very heavy, we might run in the Bradstock but if it stays OK, he'll run in the Heineken," Taaffe said of the gelding who has yet to tackle three miles.
"The distance would be unknown territory but I'm confident it won't be a problem for him. His dam (Yankees Princess) won the Irish Lincoln (1983) but also won a listed hurdle over two miles and being by Buckskin, he should be OK. Tommy Treacy will ride," Taaffe added.
Delphi Lodge was given a 6lb hike in the weights for winning at Fairyhouse and another horse put up for winning last time, at Cheltenham, is Nigel Twiston Davies' Mahler.
Boss Doyle's trainer, Mouse Morris, is happy with his charge's form since overcoming heavy ground to win the Mumm Mildmay at Aintree and said: "He's fine. He did well to win at Aintree considering the bad ground which caused him to switch on and off through the race."
The cross-channel challenge for next week took on further strength yesterday when Richard Rowe described his Champion Hurdle third, I'm Supposin, as a "possible" for the Evening Herald Handicap Hurdle.
I'm Supposin was fourth in last Saturday's Group Three John Porter Stakes on the flat at Newbury and Rowe said yesterday: "I have to discuss it with owner Nicholas Cooper and we won't decide just yet but we would like to run at Punchestown. The problem is the ground which we wouldn't want too soft. If he doesn't go he will run in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot."
Last year's Ballymore Stayers Hurdle winner Paddy's Return will bid for a repeat on Thursday under Norman Williamson. His trainer Ferdy Murphy said: "The horse looks to be absolutely buzzing. I also hope to run Ardrina in a handicap on Tuesday."
Murphy could also be represented by Astro Lines and Dr Bones but both those horses would need at least good ground in order to run.
Grahams have issued prices on Tuesday's big races at Punchestown, the Country Pride Champion Novice Hurdle: 4/5 French Ballerina, 3/1 His Song, 6/ 1 Promalee, 8/1 Unarmed, 10/1 Circus Star and Dr Massini, 16/1 bar. BMW Handicap Chase: 5/4 Klairon Davis, 9/4 Edredon Bleu, 9/2 Opera Hat, 8/1 Manhattan Castle, 10/1 Big Matt, 14/1 Lord Dorcet, 16/1 bar.
