Moscow Flyer's no-show among the entries for Sunday's Punchestown feature has left the door open for some other big names although Paul Nolan is not expecting fireworks just yet from his star novice Accordion Etoile.
Last year's Champion Hurdle fourth is one of 13 entries for the Grade Two Byrne Group Plc Cottage Chase, a race Moscow Flyer won en route to Cheltenham glory last season, but which he skips this time.
"He will probably have a few racecourse gallops but he won't be going anywhere before Cheltenham. He is easy enough to get fit so we'll skip Punchestown," said Eamonn Leigh, assistant to Moscow Flyer's trainer, Jessica Harrington, yesterday.
That leaves Sunday's door open for some other Queen Mother Champion Chase possibles including Watson Lake, Central House and Newmill who was backed into 25 to 1 for the Cheltenham feature yesterday.
However, a lot of interest will also centre on Accordion Etoile who currently disputes favouritism for the Arkle Trophy with Racing Demon and whose liking for quick ground will have his connections staring at the skies over the weekend. "If the forecast is correct we will run but it is still unclear what will happen with the weather. We may end up going to Naas on Saturday week instead," said Paul Nolan yesterday.
"He won't be 100 per cent for Sunday and the ground won't completely suit either. But we're going there for educational purposes. It won't be the be-all and end-all if he's beaten. His most important target isn't at Punchestown. I wouldn't expect him to win against those more experienced horses on ground that won't suit us. But experience is the thing we're after," he added.
The Punchestown authorities were yesterday predicting yielding to soft ground for Sunday although frost could become a concern over the weekend.
"The forecast is mainly dry but the Met' Office are also telling us there's a chance of sharp frosts on Friday and Saturday nights so we're going to have to keep an eye on that," said the Punchestown spokesman Richie Galway.
"At the moment we're soft with some places yielding to soft."
Watson Lake is a 12 to 1 shot for the Champion Chase and trainer Noel Meade is hoping to use Sunday's race as a stepping stone to Cheltenham after the horse's recent foot problems.
The champion trainer has also left his Royal Bond winner Iktitaf in Sunday's Grade Two novice hurdle. Eight other entries remain in the race including John Carr's impressive Leopardstown winner Sublimity and the former Lincoln winner Tolpuddle who scraped home by a head at Cork on his only jumps start to date 10 days ago.
Moscow Flyer isn't going to have a run before Cheltenham but his stable companion Macs Joy could take in the Grade Two Red Mills Trial at Gowran later this month after an encouraging comeback behind Brave Inca in Sunday's AIG.
"You would imagine there's even more to come. He was probably fitter this time last year so the Red Mills at Gowran is a possibility. Then again we might get more out of him at home which would mean we would go straight to Cheltenham," said Leigh.
"The horses had been a bit low and there was no explanation. They weren't sick enough not to run but they weren't getting home. I was delighted with the way Macs Joy didn't cut out at Leopardstown. Instead he ran right to the line. He seems very well in himself since," he added.
Justified was found to have a viral infection after his disappointing third to Missed That in Sunday's Baileys Arkle at Leopardstown and remains a possible for the Cheltenham version next month.
"I will discuss with the owners whether he runs in the Flyingbolt Chase (February 19th) or goes straight to Cheltenham," said Justified's trainer Dusty Sheehy.
Yesterday's meeting at Taunton was abandoned due to frost.
