Alan King is likely to find out whether Uxizandre is a realistic contender for the Queen Mother Champion Chase as he crosses the Irish Sea for a fascinating renewal of the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has done most of his racing over two and a half miles, showing himself to highly effective over that distance with a Grade One victory at Aintree in the spring.
However, after disappointing when favourite for the Old Roan Chase on Merseyside on his seasonal return, Uxizandre dropped to the minimum trip in last month's Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and a fine jumping display from the front earned him another significant success.
King hopes the decision to send him to Ireland, due to his preference for racing left-handed, will pay off this weekend.
He said: "The important thing with him is the need to keep him running on left-handed tracks. I remember running Voy Por Ustedes at the same course but I haven't had many runners in Ireland. Basically we couldn't find anything else for him.
"He has been a transformation since we switched to more aggressive riding tactics, and the fences definitely seem to bring him alive. He loves bowling along in front and is a super jumper and, while versatile in trip, he is not short of speed as you saw in the Shloer at Cheltenham.
"Therefore, it makes sense to stick to this trip this season and, if all goes well, he will be aimed at the Queen Mother Champion Chase."
Uxizandre is joined on the trip from Britain by the Nicky Richards-trained Simply Ned, who was a little under two lengths behind the King runner at Cheltenham.
The Greystoke handler believes his charge is capable of bridging the gap.
Richards said: "He's travelled over well , he's eating well and everything. We're happy with him.
"The horse seems in good old form. It looks a good race, but I'm sure he'll run well. He doesn't let me down very often this horse.
"He got in a bit tight to the last at Cheltenham last time and if he'd gone down and flown it, I'm not saying he'd have won, but I think he'd have made Kingy's horse pull it all out anyway."
Shark Hanlon's Hidden Cyclone was narrowly denied in this race 12 months ago and went on to also fill the runner-up spot in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot and the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival.
He came to grief at the final fence on his return to action at Thurles, but Hanlon is confident of a bold show on Saturday.
"He seems in great form at home. He came back from Thurles well and has schooled well since. I probably didn't have him fully fit that day, but hopefully we have him right now," said the trainer.
"He was second in this race last year and was probably a bit unlucky on the day. He was second in a few Grade Ones last season, so hopefully he'll have his turn somewhere along the line this year.
"It looks a good race, with the English horses coming over as well, but we know our horse likes Leopardstown, which is a big help, and we're looking forward to it."
Eight-times Grade One winner Sizing Europe won this race in 2012, but is on a recovery mission for Henry de Bromhead and Johnny Burke after failing to fire in last month's Clonmel Oil Chase.
Burke is expecting a better effort on the sounder surface he will encounter at Leopardstown.
"I sat on him the other morning and he seems in great form, so hopefully it's all systems go for Saturday," said the jockey.
"We're hoping he'll bounce back from the run in Clonmel. The ground was very soft that day and he just didn't jump with the same zest as he usually does.
"I think we can write that run off and hopefully he'll put up a much better show tomorrow on fresh ground in Leopardstown."
Sizing Europe is one of two runners in the field for De Bromhead, with Moscow Mannon not easily dismissed.
Mallowney was heartbreakingly pipped on the line in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on his latest appearance, but trainer Tim Doyle believes that fine effort has earned him a step up to Grade One company.
He said: "He ran very well the last day and showed he can travel and jump at speed.
"This is a proper race. Aside from the two top horses, Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, they all seem to be there and we'll know where we are afterwards.
"I think he deserves his place in the race, he's in good order and we're just hoping for the best."
Tony Martin runs Savello, winner of the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March.
The trainer said: "It's a long old season so we've taken our time with him, but he seems in good form and is ready to start off.
"Hopefully he'll run well and we'll make plans afterwards, but he won in Cheltenham last season and it would great to go back there for the same race in March."
The formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh team up with Ballycasey, a comprehensive winner at Gowran Park last month.
The champion trainer also runs Twinlight, with the Sandra Hughes-trained Bright New Dawn completing a 10-strong field.
