Black Hercules bids to make it three from three over fences in the Grade Two Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan on Sunday.
Willie Mullins' charge was a smart novice hurdler last season and has impressed on both his starts over the larger obstacles this term.
"It's a competitive race and it will be another good test for him, but we're hoping for a big run" - Patrick Mullins on Black Hercules
He opened his account with the minimum of fuss at Navan in December before following up in style in a Listed contest at Warwick last month and currently heads ante-post lists for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham next month.
The trainer's son and assistant, Patrick, said: "Black Hercules has won at the track and three miles suits him well.
"It's a competitive race and it will be another good test for him, but we're hoping for a big run.
"He's only had the two runs over fences so it will be good to get some more experience into him before Cheltenham."
Black Hercules also holds entries in the RSA Chase and the JLT Novices' Chase at Prestbury Park, but Mullins junior hopes to convince his father to run in the longer National Hunt Chase, where he would likely take the ride.
He said: "Nothing has been confirmed for Cheltenham - he is in the RSA as well - but I'll be sweet talking Willie as much as I can to run in the four miler!"
The master of Closutton also runs last-time-out Punchestown winners Measureofmydreams and Pleasant Company.
Mullins said: "The other two are solid horses and they'll both love the trip.
"On their overall form they have to improve, but if anything goes wrong with the top horses they might be there to pick up the pieces."
Noel Meade turns Monksland out again quickly after a big run to chase home Outlander in Grade One company at Leopardstown last weekend.
The Beneficial gelding stuck on well to claim the runner-up spot in the Flogas Novice Chase and Meade feels stepping back up in trip will suit his charge.
"It's maybe a bit quick but we felt that he seemed in such great shape this week that there was no harm letting him take his chance," said Meade.
"The three miles will suit him well. He ran very well last week and if he produces that form again he should be thereabouts."
The National Hunt Chase is the number one objective for Colin Bowe's stable star Shantou Flyer, who runs for the first time since finishing fifth in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse in late November.
"He was off for a month to five weeks and came back in on January 1st," said Bowe.
"He'll have a couple of cobwebs to blow away but he's in good form and we've plenty done with him.
"He hasn't had to work hard since his last run though and this will be a nice prep run for Cheltenham.
"The four-miler is the number one target and the clock is ticking. If he didn't run now we might possibly have struggled.
"I was hoping we might get a bit nicer ground but it is what it is. He handles most but he's better on a bit nicer ground."
Gordon Elliott's Noble Endeavor steps up in grade following a Boxing Day triumph at Down Royal, while the Sandra Hughes-trained pair of Sub Lieutenant and Wrath Of Titans complete the field.
Hughes said: "Sub Lieutenant ran very well the last day and we're looking forward to see how he goes.
"The ground won't be ideal for either of them, but they'll both be suited by the three miles and we'll see how we get on."
Ttebbob, meanwhile, bids to bounce back to winning ways when returning to Navan for the Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
Jessica Harrington's charge proved electric around the Meath venue when running out facile winner in Grade Three company in December, but subsequently failed to fire when pulling up behind the brilliant Douvan at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Connections felt the relatively quick return to action was to blame for that disappointing display and his trainer is confident she has her seven-year-old back in top share for this weekend's intriguing Grade Two assignment against just two opponents.
"It's a small field but it's an interesting race and if Ttebbob comes back to his early-season form he'll definitely be the one to beat" - Patrick Mullins on the threat posed by Ttebbob
"He seems to be back in very good form and I'm happy with him," said Harrington.
"Hopefully it's onwards and upwards with him now. He's had a nice break since Christmas.
"There are just the three runners but you never know as they can be very chancy races.
"We'll get Sunday out of the way before we look ahead."
Willie Mullins saddles both of Ttebbob's rivals.
Tell Us More, a highly-regarded novice hurdler last season, aims to build on his success at Gowran Park last time when he opened his account over fences.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding gave some cause for concern by jumping out to his left in the closing stages and connections are hoping he can raise his game on Sunday.
Patrick Mullins, said: "It's a small field but it's an interesting race and if Ttebbob comes back to his early-season form he'll definitely be the one to beat.
"Tell Us More has been a bit disappointing overall. We thought he'd be well up to Grade One class.
"Hopefully fences and coming back in trip will be the making of him."
The four-miler at Cheltenham was nominated as a possible target for Tell Us More's stable companion Sabremont after his victory at Fairyhouse last month, but he drops back to a shade over two miles for this event under Ruby Walsh.
The progressive six-year-old is a full-brother to leading Gold Cup contender Djakadam.
"Sambremont needs to step up on what he's done so far. He is an improving horse, but you'd think he might be up against it on Sunday," said Mullins junior.
Tony Martin expects Dedigout to put up a spirited defence of his crown in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle.
The 10-year-old was an impressive winner of the Grade Two contest 12 months ago, but has not been seen in competitive action since following up at Fairyhouse last Easter.
Martin expects his charge to strip fitter for his first outing in 10 months, but is confident he is fit enough to do himself justice in the testing terrain he relishes.
"He'll improve for the run, but hopefully he's fit enough and well enough to give a good account of himself" - Tony Martin on Dedigout
"He was due to be out before Christmas, but he met with a bit of a setback and that just held us up a bit," said the Summerhill handler.
"He's tipping away grand again now and doing everything right.
"He'll improve for the run, but hopefully he's fit enough and well enough to give a good account of himself.
"He's had a couple of racecourse gallops, so we can't do any more with him."
Dedigout is one of three runners for Gigginstown House Stud, with Gordon Elliott's Christmas Hurdle winner Prince Of Scars and another long-term absentee in the Sandra Hughes-trained Lieutenant Colonel also representing the leading owners.
Lieutenant Colonel has been off the track since finishing fourth to Jezki at the Punchestown Festival last April, but Hughes is hoping he can show enough on his return to earn him a second tilt at the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
She said: "It's his first run of the season as we were a little bit delayed with him.
"He's very well and he's as fit as I can get without having had a run.
"It's a big race for his first run back, especially with the way the ground is, but we'll see how we go.
"Because it's so late in the season we decided to put chasing on hold until next year.
"If he runs a positive race, we'll probably look towards the World Hurdle."
Multiple Grade One-winning jockey Andrew McNamara saddles his first runner as a trainer, with former Willie Mullins inmate Val De Ferbet running for the first time since he was pulled up in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil last June.
"The horse is well. He might not be quite 100% fit, but he's fit to go and do himself justice," said McNamara.
A five-runner field is completed Snow Falcon, who was in the lead when falling in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Trainer Noel Meade said: "He hasn't been jumping that great and it's just been letting him down.
"He's schooled since and seems in good form.
"I'm not sure he wants the ground as heavy as it is but we want to give him a run if we have any chance of going to Cheltenham."
