Le Coudray is being dropped straight into the Grade One deep end for his first race over fences and has been immediately installed a 5 to 2 favourite to win at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The 1999 Stayers' Hurdle runner-up will make his chasing debut in the Drinmore Chase, where he will be up against the impressive Navan scorer, Macs Gildoran, and some of the cream of Ireland's novices.
Le Coudray hasn't had a race since December 11th, 1999, and in the meantime has switched from Aidan O'Brien's yard to Christy Roche's, but his new trainer is not worried about inexperience finding out the ex-French horse.
"I'm very happy with Le Coudray's jumping. In fact, jumping is the advantage of this horse, it's his strongest point," Roche said yesterday.
The Curragh trainer will also run Risk Accessor in the Drinmore, but Youlneverwalkalone, who was left in among the big-race entries by mistake, will instead make his own chasing debut in the beginners' chase on Saturday.
Jockey plans for Le Coudray have yet to be finalised, although Conor O'Dwyer is first choice if available. However, Cashmans are taking no chances with the newcomer and make Le Coudray, who won five of his six hurdle starts in Auteuil, their 5 to 2 favourite ahead of Macs Gildoran on 3 to 1.
Roche also confirmed that Like-A-Butterfly will run in the Royal Bond Hurdle, leaving her stable companion, Yeoman's Point, to run on Saturday, and is confident his yard is now over the virus that caused a partial shut down some weeks ago.
"They all ran super at the weekend and I would say we're now clear. Like-A-Butterfly has had a run and is fine but a horse like Bannow Bay may take a run," he said.
Bannow Bay is one of just seven left in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, where Limestone Lad is a best-priced 7 to 4 favourite with Paddy Power to repeat his Morgiana Hurdle victory over Ned Kelly.
Also preparing to line up against the 1999 winner is the mare, Liss A Paoraigh, who is likely to be the choice of jockey Charlie Swan over Bannow Bay.
There has been a depressing aftershock to Sunday's Morris Oil Chase with the news that the beaten odds-on favourite Micko's Dream faces months on the sidelines through injury.
The winner of 14 races ruptured a fetlock tendon on his off-fore and is currently at a veterinary hospital on the Curragh. Trainer Willie Mullins admits it could be Easter before the horse returns to action.
Lincolnshire trainer Steve Gollings will saddle the four-year-old Castleshane (Tom Scudamore) for the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
