The cast for today's Ericsson Chase includes the gallant veteran, the returning hero and the defending champion, but it's worth betting the young improving horse will take all the beating.
Native Upmanship is the horse that looks to fit the cool, clean hero role and use the £100,000 race to cement his position as genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender.
Arthur Moore's immediate post-Durkan Chase wish to run last year's Denny winner in the Ericsson has been granted and he takes his place alongside the other Sue Magnier-owned runner, Nick Dundee.
However, there is no doubt about who the most popular winner will be. Nick Dundee's winning return at Navan earlier in the month tugged at even the hardest heart strings considering he was within inches of losing his life 21 months earlier.
Edward O'Grady has made it clear, however, the Ericsson is a step on the way back to peak fitness and that the horse cannot reasonably be expected to immediately jump back to what his pre-SunAlliance potential indicated he might turn out to be.
Dorans Pride has been a revelation in the latter half of this year and a credit to his trainer, Michael Hourigan, who believes his star comes here with nothing to lose. That is based on his belief that the others are expecting to beat the veteran but might just be in for a surprise.
Rince Ri, who beat Florida Pearl in this last year, hasn't had a run since unseating Ruby Walsh at the third last in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but Papillon proved yesterday that Ted Walsh can get them back successfully first time out.
Overall, however, it's hard to get away from Native Upmanship who is officially the highest rated on 161, comes here hard fit after edging out Florida Pearl in the Durkan and his jockey Conor O'Dwyer is convinced he is a horse still on the up.
The seven-year-old was beaten when put over the threemile trip behind Lord Noellie in the SunAlliance last March but Moore is confident the extra distance is not a problem and Native Upmanship should be hard to beat.
The other steeplechase on the card is the William Neville and Sons Novice Chase where Sackville renews hostilities with his Drinmore Chase victim Arctic Copper.
The latter is owned by a syndicate that includes the Cabinet ministers Jim McDaid and Brian Cowen and will be fancied by some to turn around the four and a half length Fairyhouse margin on 3lb better terms.
Well Ridden didn't exactly advertise that form on Tuesday but although Brush The Flag, one of two O'Grady runners, is an interesting alternative, preference is still for Sackville.
Limestone Lad's absence takes some of the lustre off the Woodies DIY Christmas Hurdle but it could provide a remarkable fifth success in a row for Willie Mullins's Catch Ball who still managed to win easily at Navan last time despite a hike in the weights. Her rate of progress may not be checked just yet.
Willie Mullins, trainer of Catch Ball, can take the bumper courtesy of Macs Gildoran who can go one better than a debut second to Fonthill at Thurles, while Forrestfield can confirm the good form of John Mulherns's string in the opener.
Ashley Park's career is hanging in the balance after he sustained a leg injury in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton yesterday. The six-year-old will miss the remainder of the season at least. "It's heartbreaking but he's damaged his off-fore and he's definitely out for the season," said a disconsolate trainer Mark Pitman.
