Racing: Asian Maze's participation in the Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday is still in the balance.
A star-studded line-up is in prospect for the Grade One event in which Champion Hurdler Brave Inca is set to reappear, along with former dual champion Hardy Eustace and champion two-mile chaser Newmill.
But trainer Tom Mullins warned that his stable star, winner of the Aintree Hurdle and the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown last season, will only take part if the ground is not too soft.
"We had an awful lot of rain yesterday," said Mullins. "The plan is to go to Punchestown and have a walk of the track.
"And if I thought it would be tacky and too soft I might just wait for the Hatton's Grace (December 3).
"It's 50-50 that she'll run at Punchestown and 50-50 that she'd run in the Hatton's Grace, she might even run in both as they are two weeks apart - we'll probably make our minds up in the morning."
If the mare does take her chance at Punchestown, Mullins is under no illusions as to the scale of her task.
"Brave Inca is the obvious one to beat, he's a great horse and he did it all last year. But she's in great form and she's in as good a nick as we could hope to have her.
"With her rating as it is at the moment it is the obvious race to have her in whether it is over two miles or two and a half.
"She likes the track, she has won round there plenty of times and it is just handy. I'm not bothered about her winning on her first run of the season anyway.
"We'll just have to play the cards and run in the races we think will suit," Mullins told At The Races.
"We'll try her at two miles but like the rest of mine, she'll come on for the run. Her best trip for me at the moment is two and a half, it's not three, at the moment definitely not three.
"When Ruby (Walsh) got off her last year at Punchestown he said that it was just not her cup of tea. She won the race well enough and nothing was going to beat her, but he just said everything would have to right for her to get the trip again. I won't forget that.
"I think two miles is the place to start the season and if she can still mix it with the boys I'd like to think she can be a Champion Hurdle contender."