Even with a Limerick owner, a Cork trainer and a Meath jockey, More Of That will fly the home flag in a classic Anglo-Irish head-to-head against No More Heroes in the RSA Chase.
The two outstanding staying novices either side of the Irish Sea are set for a mouth-watering clash. No More Heroes has looked imperious in three starts in Ireland but even his trainer Gordon Elliott concedes More Of That should be favourite given a superb course record which includes the 2014 World Hurdle.
Another layer to this is the rivalry between More Of That’s owner JP McManus and his principal Irish rival, Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud, a competition that also sees the Ryanair boss taking on McManus’s outstanding favourite Yanworth in the opening Neptune Novice Hurdle.
This is the race that famously saw the heavily backed Mr Donovan give McManus his very first Cheltenham festival success all of 34 years ago and Day 2 sees the legendary owner pitch some of his strongest cards on the table with 13 runners spread across six races.
That team includes Josies Orders who looks the one to beat in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase, a race in which O'Leary's colours will be carried by last year's winner, Rivage d'Or.
Drying out
Gigginstown could have a weapon in A Toi Phil capable of spiking the Yanworth guns but it is More Of That v No More Heroes which will get national juices flowing.
Many won’t hear of defeat for No More Heroes, even with the ground drying out. The Irish horse’s jumping has been the most impressive factor in three easy victories to date.
More Of That has won both his starts over fences and significantly they came around Cheltenham, where he has a perfect four out of four record.
“Everyone knows he’s a much better horse on better ground. If the ground comes up good he’ll take a bit of beating,” said his legendary Cork-born trainer, Jonjo O’Neill.
Alan King has described Yanworth as the best he’s trained and the six year old has been hugely impressive over flights to date, especially on his previous start here at the end of January when upped in trip.
Considering A Toi Phil ran out on his Irish debut at Clonmel in December he has been a revelation in two subsequent starts. The form of those wins has been boosted since and the French-bred appears to be improving at a rate of knots, maybe even enough to win.
Perhaps the most notable Gigginstown runner of all will be Avenir d’Une Vie in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Michael O’Leary’s dislike of the race is well-established, and was probably entrenched by what happened to a couple of his horses in it last year.
A tribute
So Avenir d’Une Vie’s appearance in this, as part of a seven-strong
Willie Mullins
challenge, is partly a tribute to the champion trainer’s persuasive powers as well as a signal that this lightly made sort is suitable for the contest.
Patrick Mullins takes the mount and Avenir d'Une Vie, who has always been highly rated, looked to be finally justifying his reputation with a vengeance when scooting up at Naas a couple of weeks ago.
Ballyandy is the big home favourite but Avenir d'Une Vie can give Willie Mullins a superb ninth success.
Arbre de Vie hasn't had a classic Coral Cup preparation, running over fences in January, but Mullins brings him back for this assignment following a good run in the Albert Bartlett last year. Paul Nicholls knows what's required to win the Fred Winter Hurdle after wins with Sanctuaire (2010) and Qualando last year and there is confidence behind the French import Diego Du Charmil who looks well weighted.
