Both John Oxx and Aidan O'Brien are considering a significant Irish challenge for Saturday's Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot.

Oxx has Masilia and Taraza entered for the Group Three contest while O'Brien could run Chamela Bay.

However, no final decision has been taken on whether they will travel.

O'Brien also has the Listed winner Lahinch in the Cornwallis Stakes as well as five entries for the Listed Autumn Stakes.

However, he said yesterday: "We won't decide until later in the week. Lahinch is a possible and we have a lot of horses in the Listed race. If one goes, I suppose we will send a team but there's nothing definite yet."

The Oxx fillies have alternatives at the Curragh on Sunday where the Irish Cesarewitch and the Group Three Beresford Stakes are the highlights.

Conditions at Ascot remain on the testing side and were described yesterday by clerk of the course Nick Cheyne as "soft, heavy in places".

The Irish-Australia jockeys series winds up at Downpatrick today but the bet of the afternoon could emerge quickly in the first.

The connections of the favourite Portobello Express did not expect to be beaten by 10 lengths in a Dundalk bumper last month but that's what Lisa's Dream did and the follow up is likely. The maiden hurdle looks an open affair but Alesi may prevail.

Meanwhile, top-class hurdler Moscow Flyer could make his chasing bow at Down Royal next month, it was revealed yesterday.

The seven-year-old is a possible runner in the Killultagh Properties Novice Chase at the Northern Ireland course's Festival of Racing on November 9th and 10th.

Moscow Flyer won the Shell Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in April when he took advantage of a last-flight fall by Istabraq to record a seven-length success over Colonel Yeager.

Harrington's star also took advantage of an uncharacteristic spill by Aidan O'Brien's ace when landing the AIB Agri-Business December Festival Hurdle at the same track.

"I would like to give Moscow Flyer a school over fences at a racecourse before deciding where he runs," the trainer said. "But the Down Royal race would have to be a serious possibility."

Killultagh Properties are a new sponsor for the novice chase (worth £40,00) and Down Royal manager Mike Todd said:

"There is unprecedented interest in this year's Festival. That is especially true to cross channel trainers who realise that we have two days of racing with each race worth a lot of money and an excellent travel allowance."