RACING: The top-flight four-year-old Powerscourt remains on course for an attempt on the $4.5 million Japan Cup in Tokyo on Sunday week.

It will be the first runner in Japan for the champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien if Powerscourt does take his chance, and Jamie Spencer, who has attracted criticism this year for his Breeders' Cup ride on the horse, as well as in the Arlington Million in August, will again take the mount.

"The horse is fine, seems in good form and he remains a possible for the race. If he's going to go he will have to travel shortly," said O'Brien yesterday.

Powerscourt's Far Eastern expedition might not end in Tokyo, as he could then be sent to Hong Kong a fortnight later for the International meeting at Sha Tin.

"We will see what happens in Japan first," O'Brien added. "There is a race for Antonius Pius in Hong Kong as well, and he is cantering away at the moment, but we will have to see about things later on."

Spencer is currently on a working break in the US and is riding out for the top trainer Todd Pletcher, who won two races at this year's Breeders' Cup series.

Other Irish horses which might end up in Hong Kong next month are the Jim Bolger pair Alexander Goldrun and Tropical Lady.

Today's featured €60,000 Clonmel Oil Chase includes two Willie Mullins-trained runners, but Mullins has chosen a rather less lucrative pot for the reappearance of some of his star names.

Rule Supreme has his first start since winning the Grande Course dd Haies d'Auteuil, the French Champion Hurdle, in mid-June when he carries 12st in the three mile handicap hurdle.

The nearest three to Rule Supreme in the weights are also from the Mullins stable, and they include Hedgehunter, who led the Aintree Grand National field for most of the race last April until he fell at the last fence.

"It's hard to find races that suit and the timing is good so they will take their chances," Mullins explained yesterday.

"Rule Supreme was back in late so we will have to see how he does. But he's in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse and he could go there next. Hedgehunter won a maiden hurdle over three miles at Clonmel so he likes the track and he looks well weighted."

Hedgehunter and the feature race contender Adamant Approach are ridden by the leading flat apprentice Davy Condon, who has experience of riding over hurdles.

Ruby Walsh is on the other Mullins contender Mossy Green, but the figures suggest the horse to beat could be Cloudy Bays, who this time last year was turning the Troytown Chase into a procession.

Of course that was over three miles, and the question marks today concern the trip and the officially forecast "yielding" ground.

In contrast, both look ideal for Risk Accessor and the Henrietta Knight-trained raider Impek, who will be partnered by the Aintree Grand National-winning rider Graham Lee.

However, Cloudy Bays ran a blinder to be only six lengths behind Beef Or Salmon in the James Nicholson at Down Royal and looks to be in the sort of form that can see him come out on top.

Florida Belle is the Mullins-Walsh contender in the opening maiden hurdle, but this one has to concede weight to Rearing To Go, who showed up best of the rest when runner-up to Major Vernon on the course earlier in the month.

Nolan's Pride bids to follow up a Wexford success in the mares novice chase, but preference is for Gli Gli, who ran a good third to her stable companion Mark The Man at Navan.