Don Cossack is the star turn at Punchestown on Thursday as he bids to follow up last year's win in the Grade Three Irish Daily Star Chase.
Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old used this race as a stepping stone to three Grade One wins last season, rounding off the campaign with a demolition job of a seriously strong field in the Punchestown Gold Cup at the Festival here in April.
He should be able to concede weight all round but does take on a promising mare in the shape of Cailin Annamh, a game sort who maintained her progression with victory in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park recently.
A similar prize is on offer in the Buck House Novice Chase and Elliott appears to hold all the aces again in the Grade Three event, this time with The Game Changer.
Two impressive wins at this level in the last couple of weeks have taken his record over fences to five wins from only seven starts and he will remain hard to stop while the ground remains on the fast side.
Sizing Platinum found The Game Changer too hot to handle at Roscommon but should be better suited by this longer trip and stiffer track, while Shantou Flyer is a game sort who is progressing.
Racing gets underway at 2:15 with the Buy Your 2016 Annual Badge Maiden Hurdle, in which Mighty Concorde will bid to open his account having finished second in two starts over hurdles to date.
The subsequent Panoramic Restaurant For Raceday Hospitality Handicap Hurdle is much more competitive but Whatever It Takes comes here fresh from a comfortable success on the Flat and remains feasibly treated in this code.
Jarob is on a steep upward curve at present and might be worth sticking with in the Punchestown November Festival Christmas Fair Handicap Hurdle, while impressive point-to-point winner Gunnery Sergeant is sure to attract support in the concluding Punchestown For Events INH Flat Race.
Don Cossack set to star at Punchestown
