Willie Mullins is aiming to pull off another training masterclass with a rival to unbeaten superstar Honeysuckle.
The Closutton trainer takes aim at the Champion Hurdle favourite with talented squad member Appreciate It.
Four-times a winner from as many starts over the smaller obstacles, the eight-year-old took last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 24 lengths.
Not seen on the track since, he heads to Cheltenham a little under the radar, with all the focus on the market leader.
Mullins, without a winner in the race since Annie Power in 2016, has also scooped the trophy with stable stars like Hurricane Fly and Faugheen.
He trained Quevega to win at the Festival on four occasions on the back of a break of more than 300 days.
Mullins said the lack of a recent run is not a concern for Appreciate It, whose hurdling wins have been on ground no better than soft.
"Quevega did it, and Joe Cullen would have been his first run that season in the bumper, so it’s not something I’m worried about.," he said.
"I made that decision ages ago. I didn’t think he needed a run as we got closer to the Festival, as I’m very happy with how he’s been working.”
Mullins gave Appreciate It an important piece of exercise last week and was encouraged by what he saw.
"He looks to be in great form at home," he added.
"I had him away for a gallop last week, and was very, very pleased with him. He galloped very well."
Earlier Mullins said he would be "happy enough" with the Turners Novices' Chase for Galopin Des Champs.
The impressive prospect has long been the ante-post favourite for the Brown Advisory race – but now the shorter option is being seriously considered.
If confirmed, Galopin Des Champs will meet the Henry de Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger.
