Willie Mullins is hoping Vautour can capitalise upon the absence of at least two big guns when dropping back to two miles for the BoyleSports Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.
With stablemate Un De Sceaux having taken on a rejuvenated Sprinter Sacre in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday, the scene is set for Vautour to make amends for his dramatic fall at Aintree.
The seven-year-old was sent off 1-5 favourite to follow up his Ryanair Chase success at Cheltenham in the Melling Chase at Aintree, only to take a pearler of a fall at the ninth fence.
"He was a bit sore for a day or two after Aintree but he is good now," said Mullins.
"With Sprinter Sacre and Un De Sceaux both having ran at Sandown we gave it a lot of thought and decided to go back to two miles with him."
Vautour's demise let in God's Own to land the spoils and he is no stranger to Punchestown, having won the Ryanair Novice Chase in 2014.
"We had luck on your side at Aintree and he won the race nicely, but he's better going right-handed," said trainer Tom George.
"Probably two-miles-one at Punchestown is his optimum. It's a big, stiff, staying track. He always jumps a bit right, but he's got to have decent ground."
Barry Geraghty teams up with the Nicky Henderson-trained Simonsig.
The injury-plagued grey looked a top-class prospect when winning the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March 2013.
However, he has only had run since and that came over hurdles at Aintree in November, when runner-up to stable companion Bobs Worth.
"He's in good shape and I schooled him last week over fences in Seven Barrows," the jockey told At The Races. "He felt brilliant and schooled nicely.
"He's only had that one run in three years. He's been very unfortunate, but he's a high-class horse and Nicky's happy with his work at home.
"It's a big ask to step into this kind of grade as it's a good while since he's had his fist run at Aintree. Vautour is a very good horse, and him coming down in distance is the only hope we have."
Any talk of retirement for Grand National hero Rule The World was premature because he reappears in the Growise Champion Novice Chase.
The Gigginstown House Stud colours are also carried by likely favourite Outlander, while Zabana has the opportunity to banish an unfortunate Cheltenham experience to the memory.
The third Grade One on the card is the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, in which Yorkhill attempts to complete a Cheltenham-Aintree-Punchestown treble, and he really shouldn't be troubled by dropping to two miles.
The Goffs Land Rover Bumper invariably throws up a top prospect and this year there has been a good word for the Gordon Elliott-trained Hardline, who was very impressive on his debut between the flags in February.
The 2016 Festival gets under way at 3.40 with the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup, and the last two winners of this - Be Positive and Wish Ye Didnt - are back for more.
Cool Macavity took the Killashee Handicap Hurdle a couple of seasons ago and Nicky Henderson sends him back over in search of further riches, while the market should prove the best guide to the Donohue Marquees Flat Race but Elliott's Runfordave did cost €100,000 so is one of the more interesting candidates.
