Bryan Cooper is to partner Petit Mouchoir as Henry de Bromhead seeks to win back-to-back Fighting Fifth Hurdles.
Cooper, who is retained jockey to owners Gigginstown House Stud, was in the plate for Identity Thief's success last year and had the choice of riding the de Bromhead mount or the Gordon Elliott-trained Apple's Jade this time around.
It would mark a first win for the former Willie Mullins inmate since entering Graded company, although he was narrowly beaten at both Aintree and Punchestown earlier this year.
Apple's Jade was just held off in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this year before ending the season in spectacular style, winning well at Aintree and Punchestown.
However, the other former Willie Mullins horse in the race disappointed on her first start for Elliott at Down Royal and bids to bounce back.
The Irish challenge is completed by Shark Hanlon's stable stalwart Hidden Cyclone, with the 11-year-old seeking to add to his 16 career wins.
Alan King's Sceau Royal, which finished well behind Apple's Jade at both Cheltenham and Aintree, is favourite for the Grade One two-miler.
Despite failing to fire at the back end of last season, the four-year-old made a flying start to the new campaign at Cheltenham in October and was an impressive winner of the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton at the beginning of this month.
The field is completed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Irving, who won this prize in 2014 and bids to regain his crown, and Mirsaale from Keith Dalgleish's yard.
