Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition is set for his next racecourse appearance in Sunday's John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase despite trainer Mouse Morris's slight reservations about the ground.

Although he had an off-day when fifth in the Grade One race last year and may not want conditions too testing, Morris is keen to space his races out evenly.

"He's running on Sunday and seems in good form," said the Tipperary-based handler. "I'd be a bit worried about the ground as it is heavy there at the moment, but I want to stick to the plan as it worked last year, and it will be the same for everybody." The seven-year-old has won twice already at the track this calendar year, beating his old foe Beef Or Salmon in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup in April, and starting off this campaign with a facile victory in the Star Chase.

However, he suffered a reversal to Beef Or Salmon in an epic James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal last time. "I think it was just one of those things, and he was not a bother afterwards," said Morris. "He's very fit and will not do much this week - he's ready to rock and roll."

If War Of Attrition does run he will face a maximum of 10 rivals, including useful prospects such as In Compliance, Kill Devil Hill and Nickname. Hi Cloy, Jim, Justified, Public Reaction, Sher Beau and the Noel Meade pair of Sir Oj and Watson Lake complete the entries.

Morris excels with a small string and got a close look at War Of Attrition's likely Gold Cup rival Kauto Star at Sandown on Saturday, when his Fota Island was well-beaten in the Tingle Creek Chase. "I hope he goes for the two-miler at Cheltenham," he joked. "Fota Island is in the John Durkan but he's gone now and will wait for better ground, he didn't like it on Saturday."

Kauto Star and War Of Attrition are not likely to clash before Cheltenham, with the latter almost certain to run in the Lexus Chase rather than the King George VI Chase over the Christmas period.

Michael Hourigan plans to give Beef Or Salmon a blow-out over hurdles in the coming weeks in preparation for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th.

The nine-time Grade One-winning chaser was beaten in comprehensive fashion by new kid on the block Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his last start. Hourigan is now looking to give the 10-year-old a spin over timber to freshen him up before the Lexus Chase, which he has won three times.

"He's in good form and he worked well this morning," said Hourigan. "I think I'm going to give him a run over hurdles before the Lexus. I've given him an entry at Punchestown on Sunday (Schweppes Handicap Hurdle) but I don't think he'll run in that. He had a rating of 106 over hurdles but I think he earned that in 2002. He has now shot up to 123 after his last run.

"That puts him at the top of the handicap in races like that and I'm not keen on running him with top weight in soft ground, giving away two stone to some horses. What I would rather do is run him in a conditions race so he is not giving weight away all round. I'm on the look-out for one. All being well, it will then be on to the Lexus again. He likes the race and hopefully a spin over hurdles will just freshen him up."