Tom Foley has confirmed that Danoli will reappear in the Red Mills Trial Chase at Gowran Park on Sunday before going to the Cheltenham Festival for a crack the Tote Gold Cup.

With Tommy Treacy unable to ride because of suspension, Shay Barry will team up with the 12-year-old for the first time in public.

Foley explained yesterday: "Shay comes and rides out for me twice a week and has ridden the horse many times so he knows him all right." The popular chaser reappeared after a 16 months absence in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 6th and was still in contention when making a mistake five out and then unseating his rider two fences later.

Reflecting on that run Foley added: "I was very happy with him and he is still OK for Gowran, it might have been a blessing in disguise that he went out when he did you know.

"He would not have beaten the winner and he could have had a hard race for finishing third or fourth but instead he has come out the race fresh the next day - we were not disappointed to see it happen and the run will have brought him on."

The ground is likely to be very testing for the three miles event and Foley said: "We are not over fussy about that, but we do need to get another run into him and then we will have three weeks before Cheltenham to put the finishing touches.

"I should think there will be seven or eight runners on Saturday, many of the entries are doubly engaged."