Qualando (Nick Scholfield) after winning the Fred Winter at Cheltenham© Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham Festival hero Qualando is one 11 juveniles in contention for the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday.
The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was a 25-1 winner of the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at Prestbury Park last month and now tests his powers at Grade One level in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies.
He is joined on the trip across the Irish Sea by Jonjo O'Neill's Matorico, the Alan King-trained Pain Au Chocolat and Stars Over The Sea from David Pipe's yard.
Willie Mullins is double handed, with smart filly Petite Parisienne joined by stable companion Buiseness Sivola.
Other contenders include Fiscal Focus, last seen finishing last of six behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle, and Charles O'Brien's consistent Prussian Eagle.
