Henry de Bromhead is hoping for a big win early in the season

Heart Wood has been handed the dual responsibility of upholding Henry de Bromhead's impressive track record while paying tribute to one of his stable stars in the BetVictor, Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase at Down Royal.

This year's contest serves as a memorial to the trainer's three-time Grade One victor, and the Knockeen-based handler is optimistic that last season's Ryanair Chase champion can rise to such demanding expectations as he ventures back up in trip at the start of the new season.

De Bromhead said: "Heart Wood is hopefully a fitting horse to take to the race and he was brilliant in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.

"We want to step him back up to three miles and see how we get on. We'd love to see him become a three-miler this season and then we can see (about possibly the Gold Cup). Hopefully Down Royal will tell us a bit."

He went on: "Envoi Allen had an incredible record at Down Royal and especially in that race so it's a lovely tribute to him from both the course and the sponsors."

Seven contenders remain in the running for Saturday's showpiece, with Heart Wood amongst them. Romeo Coolio aims to kick off the new term in style, having impressed throughout the season until the Cheltenham Festival for Gordon Elliott, who has also kept Croke Park amongst the possibles.

Rebecca Curtis sends the fascinating contender Haiti Couleurs across, while Affordale Fury—last year's Savills Chase victor—makes his comeback having missed the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a setback after pulling up at the Dublin Racing Festival.

While Joseph O'Brien's attention remains fixed on the Breeders' Cup, he'll be keeping tabs on his former King George champion Banbridge, who made a winning return to Flat racing at Gowran last month.

Completing the potential line-up is Andrew Slattery's Fleur In The Park, who claimed top-level honours at Fairyhouse in April before triumphing in his comeback run at Gowran's Grade Two Danoli Chase earlier this month.