AIG HURDLE: Connections of Davenport Milenium have confirmed the eight-year-old is likely to head to Leopardstown for Sunday's AIG Champion Hurdle.
Trainer Willie Mullins also had the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in mind for his charge, but has opted to keep him on home soil.
"I'll probably go to Leopardstown," the handler said. "He worked this morning and looked grand. He never really sparkles in his work, but he is fine."
Davenport Milenium was last seen when second in the Bula Hurdle last month and is rated as a 3 to 1 chance for Sunday's Grade One contest by Cashmans.
"The ground might not be ideal but I believe the weather forecast is for it not to be too wet and hopefully he will put up a good show," Mullins added, before confirming that regular partner Ruby Walsh will take the ride.
Spirit Leader was installed as the 9 to 4 favourite after being confirmed a definite runner by trainer Jessica Harrington.
"Spirit Leader seems to be in good form and the plan is to run at the weekend," Harrington said. "She is going to work tomorrow and hopefully everything will be all right for Sunday."
The eight-year-old pleased her trainer last time out when second in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown, where she had Rhinestone Cowboy back in sixth.
"The slow gallop the time before at Cheltenham (in the Bula Hurdle) didn't really suit her, so I was delighted with her run at Christmas," Harrington added.
"A strong gallop really brings out the best in her and I hope she has improved since her last run."
Spirit Leader took the 28-runner Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at last year's Festival, but will this time tackle the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
"Barry Geraghty is riding her this weekend, but I don't know yet whether he will ride her at Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle," Harrington said.
"We'll see what happens on Saturday before making any plans on whether she will run again before Cheltenham."
The Bowe family's Solerina is quoted as 11 to 4 with a run. The mare has not raced since finishing behind Spirit Leader in the December Festival Hurdle, and she also holds an entry in the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle at Naas on Saturday.
Dermot Weld has entered last year's Arkle Trophy sixth Stage Affair, while Fota Island, Georges Girl and Golden Cross complete the home challenge.
Other possibles include the French raider Foreman, who finished a well-beaten fourth in the Jobs Pertemps City Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and the sole English entry Flame Creek.
Flame Creek delighted trainer Noel Chance in a schooling session in Lambourn yesterday as the trainer put the finishing touches to his gelding's preparation for the race.
Chance gave 9 to 2 runner Flame Creek the thumbs up for the trip to Leopardstown after he had jumped six flights.
The eight-year-old was third to Golden Cross and Spirit Leader in the Bewley's Hotels December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown yet finished only two and a quarter lengths behind the 66 to 1 winner.
Chance said: "I think we got the tactics wrong on him the last time he ran in Ireland as we didn't want to give Solerina too much rope, and when she faded we found ourselves in front too soon and kept a good pace going for the staying horses, like Golden Cross.
"It was the first day he'd jumped a clear round and Seamus (Durack) did exactly as I told him, but it was unfortunate that things didn't work out."
Chance confirmed that Durack would ride the gelding on Sunday and that everything is being geared towards a crack at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
AIG CHAMPION HURDLE - Cashmans bet: 2-1 Spirit Leader, 11-4 Solerina (with a run), 3-1 Davenport Milenium, 9-2 Flame Creek, 11-2 Golden Cross, 9-1 Foreman, 20-1 Georges Girl, 33-1 Fota Island, Stage Affair.
