"He is a horse I hold in very high regard," said Lee. "He is very tenacious and durable - he has a fantastic attitude. When young horses come into the yard you think they could be this and that, but this horse doesn't actually show you that much at home and it's very nice when they turn out better than you thought they were.

"Knock A Hand has got several options at this stage and the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle is certainly one of them. The ground at Cheltenham wasn't soft enough for him, that's why he didn't take up any of his engagements there. He is set for chasing next year and whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus."

Other entries from Britain include the unbeaten Fingal Bay from Philip Hobbs' stable, Kelso Grade Two winner Tap Night, trained by Lucinda Russell and Cotton Mill, who unseated two out when in contention for Cheltenham's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

A strong home team includes the Willie Mullins-trained Boston Bob, who finished second when a hot favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The card on Wednesday, April 25, also includes one of the season's most-competitive handicaps, the Guinness Handicap Chase, for which the 35 entries include some high-class performers.

The likes of China Rock, Forpadydeplasterer and Tranquil Sea also boast decent form in graded company while the Paul Nicholls-trained Chapoturgeon could take part having been recently running in hunter chases.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead is set to run the classy Loosen My Load, who has not been seen since November, in the two and a half mile contest.

"We would be looking at the Guinness Handicap Chase for Loosen My Load, I hope he could run in that," said de Bromhead. "We said we would back off him after the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November because he is a good ground horse and we plan to run him through the spring and into the summer."

Meanwhile, the Richard Lee-trained Hector's Choice could be another in the line up.

"He got jumped into on his last start at Cheltenham, but he is fine now," said Lee. "That could have been very nasty so we got away with that one. We hoped he would run well at Cheltenham but these things happen.

"He would want good ground - he wouldn't want it too soft - and Punchestown is certainly an option for him."