KAUTO STAR is the headline act for Down Royal’s most prestigious fixture of the year when he lines up for tomorrow’s JNwine Champion Chase, but Mouse Morris is keen to take him on with the in-form China Rock.

The son of Presenting is also due to face Sizing Europe again tomorrow after beating that horse comprehensively at Punchestown last month.

“He’s in good fettle and everything being equal he’ll take his chance,” said Morris yesterday. “Kauto Star is in there and Sizing Europe again, but we’re very happy with our horse at the moment. They’re giving the ground as yielding, which should be fine.”

The immediate Down Royal focus, however, will be on today’s Grade Two WKD Core Hurdle which sees one of Willie Mullins’ Champion Hurdle hopes, Blackstairmountain, take on five.

The Grade One winner is officially 6lb wrong with Luska Lad, who has already won this season, and Blackstairmountain’s trainer said yesterday: “It’s his first start back and it’s a hot-looking race with Luska Lad and Gimli’s Rock and Summit Meeting in there. We’re just giving him a run and we’ll see where we’re going.”

John Kiely is hoping for a stamina test for the highly-rated Araucaria in the Grade Three mares hurdle, but she will also have the tough job of coping with Oilily, who is already a winner at this level in Tipperary.

Jakros returned to action with an impressive bumper success at Downpatrick, but Noel Meade’s runner can already boast jumping form from last winter and the stamina test of today’s maiden hurdle should be ideal.

Meade also looks to have a promising bumper sort in Dylan Ross, who was impressive at Galway last month and should be able to follow up in today’s finale.