Thistlecrack may be missing but the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday still promises to be a cracker.
Alpha Des Obeaux got closest to Colin Tizzard's star in the World Hurdle and his trainer Mouse Morris will be relieved at his absence.
Shaneshill is another to have chased home Thistlecrack - in the Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree - and Willie Mullins' RSA Chase runner-up is joined in this event by his veteran stablemate Thousand Stars.
Mullins' budding superstar Douvan attempts to take his record since coming to Ireland to a perfect 10 in the Ryanair Novice Chase.
So good as a novice hurdler, the six-year-old is even better over fences and a fifth Grade One triumph on the bounce should be a formality because he has hammered Sizing John, The Game Changer and Ttebbob before, and the other two appear outclassed.
Mullins takes the wraps off French Listed winner Ria D'Etel in the Setanta Sports Mares Novice Hurdle, and unleashes another exciting prosect as easy Navan scorer Invitation Only takes in the Kildare Post (C & G) Flat Race.
Rock The World drops down from the top table to contest the Three.ie Handicap Chase for the in-form Jessie Harrington.
Third when well supported for the Grand Annual, he then cut little ice behind the ill-fated Arzal in the Manifesto at Aintree and will appreciate this assignment more.
Josies Orders was another to make the frame when favourite at Cheltenham and strives for redemption in the FBD Cross Country Chase For The La Touche Cup, with dual winner Uncle Junior, now 15 years of age, among the opposition.
At Fishers Cross isn't the force of old but is still talented enough to make his presence felt off top weight in an ultra-competitive Murray Spelman Handicap Hurdle, while the opening JLT Handicap Hurdle (3.40) is just as tricky to solve with any number in which chances.
