Carberry is back on Hill Society

Paul Carberry will ride Hill Society in Friday's rescheduled Victor Chandler Chase if the meeting gets the go-ahead.

The race was postponed from Saturday when Ascot fell victim to the weather but both Irish challengers, Hill Society and Manhattan Castle, have remained in England to take part.

Carberry is currently serving a 10-race day suspension, but with no racing in Ireland on Friday, he is free to be reunited with the Noel Meade-trained gelding. Richard Dunwoody had been called in for the ride at the weekend.

"Hill Society is staying over there and we'll just have to see what the weather does," said a spokesperson for Meade. "If it goes ahead, Paul will be free and he'll ride."

Arthur Moore had a similar story for Manhattan Castle, who is likely to be ridden by Conor O'Dwyer. "He travelled over OK and will be staying there to run on Friday," said Moore yesterday.

The big race next weekend in Ireland is the AIG Irish Champion Hurdle, where Istabraq will take on the top-English based hurdler French Holly.

Adrian Maguire sat on French Holly for the first time yesterday in a schooling session and will replace the injured Andrew Thornton at Leopardstown.

Middleham-based trainer Ferdy Murphy said: "Adrian came over on his own accord. He rang us last night and told us he'd like to school the horse. He appeared thrilled with the way French Holly is going and I feel the horse will give us a great thrill next Sunday. Fortunately we have not been held up by the weather too much."

Opposition to the big two has yet to be confirmed. Noel Meade has not made a definite decision about Nomadic's participation and Shantarini has a possible alternative engagement in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park.

Ted Walsh's Commanche Court may run if either Istrabraq or French Holly drop out, but the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on the following Saturday is another option for him.

Down Royal on Wednesday looks set to get the Irish racing caravan under way again after the weekend loss of Naas and Fairyhouse.

The Down Royal manager Michael Todd said yesterday: "I don't foresee any problems. The weather forecast from here on in is reasonable. The ground is heavy and with our very sandy track, if it's possible to race anywhere, it's here."

Venetia Williams yesterday revealed a potentially strong hand for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

She is set to give new recruit Bellator - who unseated his rider at the last when well placed in the Champion last year - his first run from her yard this week.

And Miss Williams is also looking forward to giving hurdling debuts to Flat Pattern-race winners Stretarez and Happy Change, who will both also figure among the Champion Hurdle entries published today.