Trainer Mouse Morris is hoping Alpha Des Obeaux can exploit Thistlecrack's absence to the full to take the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday.
Alpha Des Obeaux chased home Colin Tizzard's champion at Cheltenham and with Thistlecrack missing the race through injury, it puts Alpha Des Obeaux firmly in the driving seat to claim the Grade One honours.
"I wouldn't wish an injury on any horse, so I would never say I'm glad Thistlecrack isn't coming," said Morris.
"We've still got to go and win it and it won't be easy, but Alpha proved at Cheltenham that he loves a bit of nice ground and I'm looking forward to running him."
Alpha Des Obeaux is one of three runners carrying the Gigginstown House Stud colours, the others being Lieutenant Colonel, trained by Sandra Hughes, and Tony Martin's Dedigout.
"It didn't happen for Lieutenant Colonel at Cheltenham so we'll see. Dedigout will only run if the ground is soft," said Gigginstown's racing manager Eddie O'Leary.
Diamond King gets his chance at the top level thanks to winning the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, with trainer Gordon Elliott ken to capitalise on the absence of Thistlecrack and Willie Mullins' Vroum Vroum Mag.
"He ran brilliantly at Cheltenham and we think he's deserving of the step up in class in the Grade One Stayers' Hurdle," said the County Meath handler.
"Obviously his task has been made slightly easier with Willie Mullins deciding against running Vroum Vroum Mag and Thistlecrack missing the race through injury.
"Even so, it's going to be a very hard race with Alpha Des Obeaux my idea of the one who is going to test us the most.
"He was good at Cheltenham when finishing second behind Thistlecrack and he's the one to beat for me."
Despite Vroum Vroum Mag being placed elsewhere at Punchestown, Mullins has a decent hand in Shaneshill, who was second to Thistlecrack in the Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree, and the veteran Thousand Stars.
The latter has only missed two Punchestown Festivals since his first appearance there back in 2008.
"This will be his seventh Punchestown Festival and he's been a tremendous servant," said Mullins.
"He would have two Champion Hurdle wins there only for Hurricane Fly and he was third in another two Champion Hurdles won by The Fly.
"He won another Grade One for us on his last start (at Auteuil in November) and we're looking forward to running him."
There are two English raiders in the shape of the Philip Hobbs-trained If In Doubt and One Track Mind from Warren Gratrex's stable while Jennies Jewel, trained by Jarlath Fahey, and Stuart Crawford's Legacy Gold make up the 10-strong field.
