Gordon Elliott admits Mae's Choice will need to improve this season as she returns in the Grade Three Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.
The six-year-old progressed from running in novice hurdles at Musselburgh and Ayr to winning a Grade Three event at the Punchestown Festival.
Because of that victory she is giving weight away to all her seven rivals, including the promising Willie Mullins-trained Tarla, who needs to bounce back from a poor run on the Flat.
"Mae's Choice won a Grade Three in Punchestown and that was a massive career-best from her," said Elliott.
"She's strengthened up really nicely over the summer and we think she's improved but she'll have to up her game this season.
"We sort of threw her in at the deep end at Punchestown but she came out the other side with the goods. She'll need to step up again now."
