Kemboy will bid to continue his Leopardstown love affair in the Savills Chase today (Live on RTÉ2).
In eight outings at the Dublin circuit the Willie Mullins-trained runner has only been out of the first four once – with his two victories featuring this race in 2018 and the Irish Gold Cup in February last year.
It was so nearly a second Savills Chase in 2020, only to be caught close home by Henry de Bromhead's A Plus Tard in a thrilling finish, while he was beaten less than a length into third place 12 months ago.
Kemboy’s last outing was another Grade One near-miss, behind Envoi Allen at Down Royal last month, and his task has been made easier by the late scratching of A Plus Tard on veterinary advice.
Mullins also runs Franco De Port and Royal Rendezvous, the latter winning last season’s Galway Plate and now having his first start since Punchestown in April.
"Kemboy loves the track and he always keeps some of his best runs for here," said the Closutton handler.
"Franco De Port will probably need a bit of luck to win, but he’ll take his chance. He won at the track over two miles.
"Royal Rendezvous hasn’t run over three miles – the Galway Plate is as far as he’s run – and we felt we’d have a look to see how he goes over longer trips.
"He’s a hard horse to place with his rating and is entitled to run in the race. I’m not sure if he’ll get the trip, but we’ll see."
Last year’s renewal saw a role reversal for A Plus Tard as he was run down by Galvin, losing out by a head.
Only fourth at Down Royal, Galvin is back to defend his crown and is joined by his Gordon Elliott-trained stablemates Conflated and Fury Road.
Winner of this year’s Irish Gold Cup, Conflated was one place in front of Galvin at Down Royal and is set to be sent off favourite here, while Fury Road was a Grade Two winner at that meeting.
The field is completed by the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite, who is trying three miles for the first time over fences after finishing runner-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Dual Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter bids to get back on the winning trail in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle, the second of the day's two Grade One contests.
Gavin Cromwell’s stable star filled the runner-up spot in this race 12 months ago behind Klassical Dream, who this year misses out after suffering a setback.
Flooring Porter took his revenge when successfully defending his Stayers’ Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March and is expected to improve on his fourth-placed finish in last month’s Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.
He will need to up his game, however, with the first three finishers – Home By The Lee, Bob Olinger and Ashdale Bob – taking him on once more.
Cromwell said: "Flooring Porter is in good form and has come out of his run at Navan fine.
"We are meeting those horses off level weights now, fitness wise he will have improved a lot for it and the extra half-mile suits him well.
"We’re basically replicating what we did last year and we’re looking forward to getting him out."
Bob Olinger would certainly be a poignant winner for Henry de Bromhead, whose late son is honoured in the title of this year’s renewal.
In Klassical Dream’s absence champion trainer Willie Mullins launches a twin assault, although both Saldier and Mr Adjudicator appear to have their work cut out.
Zanahiyr appears the pick of three runners for Gordon Elliott ahead of Sire Du Berlais and Commander Of Fleet, while Noel Meade’s Beacon Edge and Meet And Greet from Oliver McKiernan’s yard also feature.
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