But for his own stablemates, Neptune Collonges might now be celebrated as the best staying chaser around. Instead, largely to avoid needless clashes with Denman and Kauto Star, his programme this season will be based around the principal Irish races, starting with the grade one Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

This imposing grey was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March but showed he has the beating of Ireland's depleted staying ranks by winning the Punchestown Gold Cup for a second successive year. Since then, however, Irish hopes have been boosted by the return from long-term injury of War Of Attrition.

Though only third behind Noland and The Listener last time out, War Of Attrition will be more at home over the three miles tomorrow and has a plausible chance of preventing a third consecutive British winner of this race.

Neptune Collonges is joined in the raiding party by The Listener, whose finest days have come in Ireland, and Exotic Dancer. Jonjo O'Neill's bridesmaid chaser, having failed to win any of his seven starts against Kauto Star, avoided another King George bid and travelled across the Irish Sea to take on a different Paul Nicholls star.