Gordon Elliott has his fingers crossed Apple's Jade can complete a hat-trick in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare has won 11 of her 17 career starts overall, including seven Grade Ones.
She got the better of a thrilling battle with former stable companion Vroum Vroum Mag when striking gold in the Hatton's Grace two years ago and was a hugely impressive winner over the ill-fated Nichols Canyon last season.
Having warmed up for her return to Fairyhouse with victory in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan - just as she did last season - Apple's Jade is favourite to become the third three-time winner along with Limestone Lad and Solerina.
"She's a great bit of stuff - she's won seven Grade Ones. She doesn't owe us too much and whatever she does from now on is a bonus," Elliott told At The Races.
"On ratings she looks like the one to beat. It looks an ideal race for her - she's won around the track twice and she likes going right-handed.
"She's in great form at home and we couldn't be happier with her."
Apple's Jade is one of four runners for Elliott along with Dortmund Park, Farclas and Sutton Place.
Elliott added: "Sutton Place has been off the track for a while, but he's a horse I think an awful lot of."
Like Apple's Jade, Grade One-winning novice Dortmund Park and Triumph Hurdle hero Farclas carry the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.
Gigginstown's racing manager, Eddie O'Leary, said: "We'll just have to see how much rain there is.
"The mare is well, hopefully there's not that much rain for her, but she is what she is.
"Dortmund Park probably wants further, but will hopefully go well.
"Farclas should run well, but he might need the run. It's his first run back after a wind op."
Willie Mullins had Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon and Cheltenham Festival heroines Benie Des Dieux and Laurina entered at the confirmation stage.
However, he whittled his team down to four and none of that trio run.
Instead, the champion trainer relies on Bapaume (Paul Townend), Shaneshill (David Mullins), Wicklow Brave (Patrick Mullins) and Limini (Ruby Walsh).
Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "They're four very good horses, but this looks a high-class race.
"Apple's Jade is in there and Supasundae as well and those two will be hard to beat.
"Hopefully our horses can run well and pick up some prize-money."
The Jessica Harrington-trained Supasundae was third in last year's renewal before going on to win the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
Jockey Robbie Power is looking forward to the eight-year-old's belated seasonal reappearance after he was withdrawn from the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown a fortnight ago.
He said: "It was unfortunate the ground was a shade quick in Punchestown. He's in good form and the Hatton's Grace is where he started last year.
"It's going to be a tough race, with Apple's Jade in there again, but he ran well to finish third last year.
"He's a big, lazy horse at home and no matter how much work you do with him, it's very hard to get him fit without having a run.
"He'll definitely improve for the run whatever he does on Sunday, but we're looking forward to getting him started.
"If you look at his form you'd say two miles his best trip, but he's very versatile - anywhere from two miles to three miles he can pitch up."
Joseph O'Brien's Early Doors completes the field.
Bapaume
One-time Triumph Hurdle favourite who went on to finish third in the race itself, before taking the Punchestown equivalent. Mixed bag since but back to winning ways in France last time and there may be more to come, although he has been absent for six months and looks short of top-class.
Dortmund Park
Winner of the Grade One novice over 2m4f at Punchestown in the spring, although not clear what that form is worth. Before it, he'd been well beaten into eighth at Cheltenham on the back of wind surgery and there were few positives to take from his return fifth behind Apple's Jade. Mountain to climb on that evidence.
Early doors
Just short of top-class as a novice but ran well in the Martin Pipe, before disappointing as favourite for a Punchestown handicap. Off since and will be of more interested when dropped in grade.
Shaneshill
Been less busy of late as he approaches half-a-million in career earnings. Third in the Champion Stayers in April but a long way behind stable companion Faugheen and was no match for Bapaume in France last time. Eighteen months now since he won and unlikely to change that here.
Supasundae
Consistent, high-class eight-year-old who won the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April. Helped there by Melon and Samcro both falling, but would've been a tough nut to crack anyway having previously been second at both Cheltenham and Aintree. Third in this race last year and may just prove vulnerable on his season return once more, especially with the ground lively enough, as he's reportedly a hard horse to get fit at home.
Sutton Place
Gave Supasundae weight and a beating over Hurdles in 2017 and then looked like he might go to the top over fences, beating Kemboy on New Year's Day. Pulled-up at Leopardstown thereafter, though, and hard to know what to expect from fragile sort who has won six of his nine starts but pulled up in two of his last three. That said, there's a chance he's best caught fresh and this trip ideal.
Wicklow Brave
Won Punchestown Champion Hurdle in 2017, but four wins since all at odds-on in much calmer waters - indeed started 1/16 at Listowel and 1/25 at Killarney. Well held back in Grade One company last time and be a surprise if he's anywhere near up to this.
Farclas
Triumph Hurdle winner aiming to bridge the gap this season. Steps up in trip on his return and that should suit, while he looked throughout his juvenile campaign like a horse for whom the best would come in time. Exciting to see how he fares on first start since wind surgery, but would need to be out of the very top drawer in the here and now to win this.
Apple's Jade
Prolific mare who looked as good as ever on her return, thumping Jezki by 11 lengths at Navan. Used that race as a springboard to success in this one a year ago and every chance of landing the hat-trick, having held off Vroum Vroum Mag to win the 2016 edition. Blotted her copybook a little in the spring but still yet to finish out of the first three in 17 runs and as a six-year-old not unreasonable to suggest she's in fact still getting better. Whatever beats her will surely win; suspect none will.
Limini
Third when favourite to beat Apple's Jade at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, having comfortably accounted for her at Punchestown in preparation. Missed more than a year afterwards and while initially offering signs of encouragement on the Flat, including when victorious at Leopardstown, she's disappointed twice lately. Difficult to set expectations high on her return to hurdles, especially in this company, despite her very best form giving her a solid each-way chance.
Verdict
No getting away from APPLE'S JADE here and it'll be a surprise if she's beaten. Unlike chief form rival Supasundae, who she accounted for with minimum fuss in this race a year ago, she's had a prep run and it suggested she's not yet finished improving.
With Jessica Harrington's star returning from a lengthy enough break, there's room perhaps for an upset on the forecast front and Sutton Place gets the vote to provide it. He has the talent, no doubt, and if over whatever bothered him in the spring may prove the type who is best caught fresh - he'd been off 306 days when beating Supasundae and 249 days when accounting for Kemboy.
It'll be interesting to see how four-year-old Farclas fares while there is at least a chance that a return to hurdles sparks improvement from Limini, who would be a threat to all in that case.