Connections of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin and last year's John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase beaten Fastorslow are hopeful of better showings from their respective charges when they line up in the 2025 renewal of the race in County Kildare on Sunday.
Last year, Inothewayurthinkin finished seventh of eight runners and a yawning 36 lengths behind Fact To File in the Grade One chase over a trip short of his best.
Mark Walsh looks set to remain loyal to antepost favourite Fact To File, meaning Keith Donoghue could return to the plate on a horse he partnered in each of his three runs prior to Cheltenham last season.
Stamina has proved Inothewayurthinkin's strong suit, with the Gold Cup winner a clear market leader for the Grand National before they opted to swerve Aintree, but trainer Gavin Cromwell is anticipating a bold showing despite the cut back in trip.
"He's a lot more switched on this year and hopefully he's open to improvement," the Meath man said. "That remains to be seen, but we're happy with what we see at the moment.
"It's on the sharp side for him, but it's a nice trip for his first run and hopefully he can run well.
"His jumping was a little bit sticky, and it improved all through the year last year.
"Keith rode him all season and taught him plenty, and he kept improving from race to race."
On riding arrangements, Cromwell added: "I don't know the final decision on who will ride Inothewayurthinkin yet – we’ll speak with connections on that.
"I suspect Mark will ride Fact To File having won the race on him last year, but we’ll have to wait and see. If that’s the case, I’d say Keith will probably ride our lad."
Fastorslow was sent off favourite for the race last year but finished fourth in his only start of the campaign before being sidelined for the season in December.
Despite his lengthy absence, his big-race jockey JJ Slevin sounded confident after working Martin Brassil's stable star on Tuesday.
"It's great to have something to look forward to with a good horse like this," he said. "It was nice to school him this morning and it makes getting out of bed this morning a bit easier.
"He's a very nimble horse and he has a great brain for it. He has a massive amount of ability and I don't think people realise how easily he won some of those top-class races."
"He didn't even have to go to the bottom of the well on an occasion or two. When he's really on his A-game, he's a very, very good horse."
Aside from Fact To File, Willie Mullins could be represented by James Du Berlais, Gaelic Warrior, Lecky Watson, Grangeclare West and Grand National winners I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett.
Henry de Bromhead's Heart Wood remains in contention, as does Vincent Halley's Senecia.
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