Last year's Cheltenham hero Joe Cullen starts his new jumping career at Fairyhouse today and it could be a start that again finishes in Festival glory next month.
Few were surprised that Willie Mullins continued his fabulous Festival Bumper record last season, but many were very surprised indeed that the 14 to 1 outsider Joe Cullen was the one home first.
Joe Cullen has had just the one appearance since when flopping in a two mile flat race at Navan in mid-October, but that was on unsuitably heavy ground. Mullins reports that Joe Cullen's schooling has been most impressive but the going today could be critical.
If the ground stays its officially forecast "yielding" then the horse should be okay, but rain is forecast and Joe Cullen's two career victories to date have indicated a horse that likes to hear his feet rattle.
Given those conditions again at the Festival the Supreme Novices Hurdle is viewed as a realistic target and the bookies are already rating Joe Cullen's chance in that at 20 to 1. The Mullins runner has a lot to prove today but given reasonable going he should be up to doing just that in the opener.
Other advance Festival interest today will centre on the Easter Handicap Chase where Feeling Grand will try to make trainer Henry de Bromhead feel grand about sending the horse to Cheltenham.
The Grand Annual and the Mildmay Of Flete were mentioned as Festival options after Feeling Grand used his acceleration to win impressively at Leopardstown last month. Clearly the main focus is on next month, but despite the handicapper, Feeling Grand can make his finishing toe count. Barry Geraghty can also be on the scoresheet courtesy of Myheartisbroken in the Beginners Chase.
David Wachman's runner indicated his class when defeating the likes of Aldino over flights last season and also won easily at Thurles almost a year ago. He hasn't run since, which leaves a chink of light for the others in this afternoon's race, but Myheartisbroken can close the door firmly in their faces.
The bet of the day, however, looks to be in the mares novice hurdle. The balance of Rua Lass's form gives Eoin Griffin's teak-tough runner the clear winning of today's race, even against the likes of the Naas winner Supreme Touch and Pat Fahy's Belle Away.
Rua Lass has distinguished herself against some notably classy types like Liss A Paorigh and Michael Mor this season, the ground should be ideal and the trip should not be a problem. All told it adds up to a probable victory.
Willie Mullins will be hoping to complete a first and last race double with One Night Out, but slight preference is for Prince Of Tara who was a short head second to Direct Bearing off a less than ideal pace last time.
