Kemboy, the mount of Paul Townend, carries the hopes of the champion trainer in the first Grade 1 of the season and the 2021 Irish Gold Cup winner, among a field of five declared for the race this morning, will be his first runner in the three-mile event since the Ruby Walsh-ridden Boston Bob and Townend’s mount On His Own finished third and sixth respectively in 2014.

However, it is Gordon Elliott that holds the strongest of hands with the sponsor’s favourite Galvin, a winner at Punchestown last month, and Conflated, second best in the early betting market, set to line out. Victory for either horse, ridden by Davy Russell and Jack Kennedy respectively, would see Elliott join trainer Paul Nicholls as a five-time winner of the race.

Noel Meade, successful in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase in 2014 with Road To Riches and again in 2018 and 2019 with Road To Respect, runs Beacon Edge with Bryan Cooper on board while Envoi Allen, stepping back up in trip, bids to give Henry de Bromhead his second win, and Rachael Blackmore her first, after Valseur Lido’s triumph in 2016.

Click here for the declarations for Saturday’s card at Down Royal