Willie Mullins has already said Sir Des Champs' campaign revolves around going one better than last season in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but ground conditions could help Ireland's top-rated chaser return to action with a Grade One victory at Punchestown tomorrow.
Just four line up for the John Durkan Chase but that's one more than last year when Flemenstar beat Sir Des Champs by five lengths in a memorable race that had Rubi Light back in third.
Remarkably all three are back again and joined by another Mullins star in Arvika Ligeonniere who has been promoted to favourite by some firms.
However, whether ground approaching genuinely good is ideal for Ruby Walsh’s mount is debatable, something that doesn’t apply to either of his two big rivals.
In many ways, two and a half miles on such a surface would be theoretically perfect for Flemenstar had he not gone and won his seasonal debut in the way he did.
New trainer
On his first start for new trainer Tony Martin, the 1/4 favourite was far from impressive in the Fortria at Navan, jumping big, and ultimately having to be pushed out to beat Days Hotel. It was a notably underwhelmed winners' circle that day, which combined with a wind operation last summer leaves Flemenstar with questions to answer.
In comparison, the question-mark over Sir Des Champs surrounds how tuned up he is for this but he looked well at the Mullins yard earlier this week and he got to within five lengths of a peak-form Flemenstar in this race last year on ground much softer than he prefers.
Mullins is convinced good ground is important for the horse that chased home Bobs Worth at Cheltenham last March, a result one suspects the champion trainer believes would have been different if rain hadn’t come on blue-riband day.
“I’ve been very happy with his work. He’s a horse that carries conditions and always looks a bit big,” said Mullins during the week. “I’ve always thought he’s got plenty of speed.”
So in an intriguing race where question marks are plentiful, Sir Des Champs could be the one to disregard his the best.
Bumper candidate
Also during the week Mullins nominated tomorrow's bumper candidate Black Hercules, impressive winner of a point-to-point in April, as being among his leading youngsters while ground conditions should also suit the Closutton duo of Clonard Lad and Rough Justice in the first two hurdles.
Cork hosts three pattern races tomorrow, headlined by the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase where last year’s winner Days Hotel is back for another crack at the €45,000 Grade Two.
Like the Mullins hope Twinlight, Days Hotel has to concede 8lb to the former top novice Realt Dubh. Days Hotel has emerged best the last twice the pair have met but the weight difference is significant and Realt Dubh can secure a first win in over two and a half years.
Lots Of Memories would probably like the going a lot softer but he is back to three miles for the Grade Three novice hurdle and the company doesn't look as strong as when fourth to Apache Stronghold at Navan last time. Leading flat jockey Billy Lee is a notable booking for the easy point-to-point winner Pairc Na Leasa in the second handicap hurdle.
n Jockey Paul Carberry will sit out the weekend action after a bad fall at Clonmel on Thursday. His agent, Ciarán O'Toole, said: "It's not too bad, he's just going to miss this weekend and will be back early next week."
