Tony Martin expects Dedigout to put up a spirited defence of his crown in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
The 10-year-old was an impressive winner of the Grade Two contest 12 months ago, but has not been seen in competitive action since following up at Fairyhouse last Easter.
Martin expects his charge to strip fitter for his first outing in 10 months, but is confident he is fit enough to do himself justice in the testing terrain he relishes.
"He was due to be out before Christmas, but he met with a bit of a setback and that just held us up a bit," said the Summerhill handler.
"He's tipping away grand again now and doing everything right.
"He'll improve for the run, but hopefully he's fit enough and well enough to give a good account of himself.
"He's had a couple of racecourse gallops, so we can't do any more with him."
Dedigout is one of three runners for Gigginstown House Stud, with Gordon Elliott's Christmas Hurdle winner Prince Of Scars and another long-term absentee in the Sandra Hughes-trained Lieutenant Colonel also representing the leading owners.
Lieutenant Colonel has been off the track since finishing fourth to Jezki at the Punchestown Festival last April, but Hughes is hoping he can show enough on his return to earn him a second tilt at the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
She said: "It's his first run of the season as we were a little bit delayed with him. He's very well and he's as fit as I can get without having had a run. It's a big race for his first run back, especially with the way the ground is, but we'll see how we go.
"Because it's so late in the season we decided to put chasing on hold until next year. If he runs a positive race, we'll probably look towards the World Hurdle."
Multiple Grade One-winning jockey Andrew McNamara saddles his first runner as a trainer, with former Willie Mullins inmate Val De Ferbet running for the first time since he was pulled up in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil last June.
"The horse is well. He might not be quite 100 per cent fit, but he's fit to go and do himself justice," said McNamara.
A five-runner field is completed Snow Falcon, who was in the lead when falling in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Trainer Noel Meade said: "He hasn't been jumping that great and it's just been letting him down. He's schooled since and seems in good form.
"I'm not sure he wants the ground as heavy as it is but we want to give him a run if we have any chance of going to Cheltenham."