RACING: Solerina and her stable companion Florida Coast are on target to run in Sunday's Lismullen Hurdle at Navan but the immediate future of the most famous James Bowe runner of all, Limestone Lad, is far from being as clear-cut.

It's almost 20 months since the star stayer last ran and organising a return to the racetrack is proving to be more problematic than the Bowe team had anticipated.

Limestone Lad missed out on an intended comeback at Naas last Saturday amid reports the veteran 12-year-old may not return to racing at all.

Yesterday Bowe's son, Michael, said a final decision on Limestone Lad's career is likely to be made by Christmas.

"Bringing him back has not been as straight-forward as I thought it would be and I'm not totally happy with him at the moment. We're having problems getting him fit and we're not going to risk him unless he is able to do himself justice.

"Christmas time will tell us a lot and we may make a decision about him then. We will go on our instincts with the horse. He will only come back if we feel he is able to return to something like his glory days," Bowe said.

The mare's opposition is also likely to include the star chaser Le Coudray whose former hurdling career included a runner-up placing in the Stayers' at Cheltenham.

Le Coudray is also an entry in the Fortria Chase on the same card but Christy Roche said yesterday: "I think he will probably run in the hurdle. He's ready for a run but Le Coudray has had enough problems to stop us looking any further ahead than the weekend. Every evening he is sound is a good evening."

That leaves Moscow Flyer with one less opponent in the Fortria and the trainer of the 2003 champion chaser, Jessica Harrington, reports: "He's had plenty of work and is probably a lot more forward than last year. All being well he will go for the Tingle Creek Chase (December 4th.)"

Sunday's Navan card also includes the For Auction Novice Hurdle which has an entry that includes the unbeaten Edward O'Grady-trained Overbury Affair who won his sole jumps start to date at Cork. The form of that race could well receive a boost at Thurles this afternoon where the Cork runner-up The Foyle goes in the maiden hurdle. It was an eye-catching run by the JP McManus-owned horse that day and he should be hard to beat.

Some star names set out on new careers today and none more so than last season's Supreme Novices Hurdle runner-up War Of Attrition who goes in the first Beginners' Chase.

That neck defeat by Brave Inca was a huge effort but nevertheless it didn't change the impression that fences were always going to bring the best out of him.

A faller at the last when clear on his only point to point start, War Of Attrition can make a winning start to the new season.

The ground should be quick enough for Royal Alphabet to prove too good in the second Beginners' Chase while the Bowe family can get in the mood for Navan with Sweet Kiln who is impossible to oppose in the same maiden hurdle won by Solerina two years ago.

Oh Be The Hokey has a little to find with Eskimo Jack on ratings for the conditions chase but Charlie Swan's horse is in form.