Limestone Lad's confirmation for next week's £65,000 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle coincided yesterday with the Murphy's Brewing Company declaration that they will resume sponsoring the National Hunt festival's major prize at Punchestown next year.

The Cork-based company dropped out of supporting the £125,000 Heineken Gold Gold Cup when the festival was transferred away from Punchestown and the race will be known as the Powers Gold Label Tote Gold Cup Cup when it is run at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.

Limestone Lad's appearance on Thursday will be the highlight for many race fans although the popular gelding could have a fitness question mark hanging over him.

Famous as one of the busiest National Hunt horses of recent years, Limestone Lad hasn't run for over two months since winning at Navan in mid-February and a spokesperson for trainer James Bowe said yesterday: "He has been entered and probably will run but we're just hoping he will be fit enough. We're not too worried about the ground."

A total of 13 horses remain in the Stayers race including Bannow Bay and Khayrawani while the Friday feature at Leopardstown will be the £115,000 Shell Champion Hurdle for which Istabraq remains an intended starter.

Dorans Pride is set to take on Florida Pearl and Commanche Court in Wednesday's Gold Cup and can do so on a winning note after lining up for today's Dawn Milk Handicap Chase at Listowel.

Sunset Lodge, from 6lb out of the handicap, looks the one to stretch Dorans Pride most but not even 12st on soft ground can stop the 12-year-old.

Michael Hourigan can double up with the highly rated hurdler Just Our Job in the two mile maiden and Dermot Weld can be another trainer on the double with Theatregoer and Junior Doctor.

Tomorrow's Listowel windup should be a good day for the champion jump jockey-elect Ruby Walsh. Mykon Gold looks to have got a real winning opportunity over fences in the Beginners Chase.