The Tom Hogan-trained Sonnyanjoe faces a mammoth task at Cheltenham today when he tackles both the reigning champion stayer Inglis Drever and Blazing Bailey who will attempt back-to-back wins in the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle.
Paddy Brennan again teams up with the Irish raider in the Grade Two race who gets only 4lb from his illustrious rivals as well as David Pipe's Lough Derg who has won his last two races at Ascot.
Other Irish interest at Prestbury Park will centre on the Eugene O'Sullivan-trained pair of Thedancingdemon and Time To Sell who run in two handicap chases.
Racing at Navan today is dependant on another morning inspection but Edward O'Grady and Andrew McNamara will be hoping for a green light as they give the Grade One-winning hurdler Clopf his first start over fences. A lack-lustre effort behind Al Eile over Christmas made O'Grady draw stumps on a Champion Hurdle campaign but today's two-and-a-half-mile Beginners Chase looks an ideal kick off for Clopf.
O'Grady and McNamara will also fancy their chances in the other Beginners Chase with the point-to-point winner Whatever You Think who was fourth on his return in a Limerick bumper.
