Trainer Colin Tizzard © Photo Healy Racing
Colin Tizzard is looking forward to seeing Finian's Oscar put his unbeaten record on the line in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.
The five-year-old was an expensive purchase at £250,000 for owners Alan and Ann Potts, but has repaid the faith put in him with four consecutive victories.
After winning the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and a Listed prize at Exeter, Finian's Oscar missed the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a setback but looked better than ever at Aintree three weeks ago.
"It was disappointing to miss Cheltenham and you don't want to have setbacks, but sometimes these things work in your favour," said the Dorset-based trainer.
"We were delighted with him at Aintree and he seems in very good form.
"He's only had one run since February, so he's going there a fresh horse.
"It's a Grade One and they're never easy, but we're looking forward to it."
Willie Mullins has claimed this prize eight times in the last 15 years, with Mikael D'Haguenet (2009), Vautour (2014) and Nichols Canyon (2015) among his previous winners.
Of this year's four-strong team, stable jockey Ruby Walsh has sided with the mare Let's Dance.
The five-year-old won the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, but suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of stablemate Augusta Kate at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday.
Mullins also saddles impressive Fairyhouse scorer Bleu Berry (Paul Townend), Kemboy (David Mullins) and Bacardys (Patrick Mullins).
Mullins jnr said: "It's great to get back on Bacardys. We've had some good days together, winning the Aintree bumper last year and the Deloitte Novice Hurdle in Leopardstown this year.
"He was badly hampered by a faller at Cheltenham and could never get back into it after that, but Ruby looked after him and he came home in good form.
"Let's Dance seems to have come out of her last race at Fairyhouse well. Two-and-a-half (miles) suits her well and I think with her allowance she comes out best on ratings, so hopefully she has a big chance.
"Bleu Berry was good in Fairyhouse and Kemboy was the first Irish horse home when he was fifth in the Neptune in Cheltenham. That was only his third run over hurdles and hopefully he can improve.
"There's plenty of strength in depth to our team and they're all there on merit."
Death Duty has enjoyed an excellent season on home soil, winning each of his four starts.
However, he needs to bounce back after unseating his rider at the final flight when well beaten in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.
Trainer Gordon Elliott told At The Races: " He came home very light and a bit dehydrated from Cheltenham, so maybe he didn't travel all that well. He clearly didn't run his race at all.
"He worked well on Wednesday morning."
Elliott has a second string to his bow in Runfordave.
