No change to Durkan line-up

NEWS ROUND-UP: WAR OF ATTRITION will still take on the British-trained pair of Noland and The Listener when the John Durkan Memorial Chase is finally run at Punchestown tomorrow.

The Grade One programme is being moved in full after yesterday's scheduled card was cancelled less than two hours before the first race was due off.

A 7.30am inspection, which was called due to the frosty conditions, failed to pass the track fit for racing, but another inspection took place at 10am when officials were optimistic a good enough thaw would have taken place.

However, those hopes were eventually dashed, and some horses already on route to the track had to turn back and go home.

"It's regrettable, but safety has to be paramount," said a Punchestown spokesman before the track authorities quickly rescheduled the meeting to tomorrow.

Noland's trainer, Paul Nicholls, and Nick Mitchell, who trains The Listener, later confirmed both cross-sea raiders would remain at Punchestown for the race.

The Durkan also remains the target for War Of Attrition, who will continue his comeback from injury with a third start of the season.

The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner's trainer, Mouse Morris, said: "The plan is to run on Tuesday, all being well. Obviously it is not ideal, but it is the same for all of them and you just have to try and get on with it. Touch wood, he seems in good form so we will strive on."

The first race tomorrow will still be 12.35pm, and admission will be free.

Philip Carberry faces a battle against the clock to return from injury in time for Sublimity's next race over Christmas after his narrow defeat by Punjabi in Saturday's Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Wetherby.

Carberry missed out on the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner due to an injury picked up while riding in France, but he hopes to be back in time for the horse's next start.

That looks like it will come in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown, as trainer Robbie Hennessy doesn't fancy a third trip across the Irish Sea in a month for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Hennessy issued an upbeat report on Sublimity: "He arrived back at 8.0 this morning and there's not a bother on him. He has tightened up a little, but that is to be expected with the long week he has had.

"It was a brilliant run when you consider he had to go over to England twice in a week and the first time he went took 12 hours. I would like to stay at Leopardstown for his next race. Only if the going turned up very soft would we look at the Christmas Hurdle."

Next Sunday's Grade One highlight will be the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan, which is the intended next start of Noel Meade's latest young star Pandorama.

The Monksfield Hurdle winner over this weekend's course and distance is already favourite for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Another course winner who could line up against Pandorama is Willie Mullins' French import Mikael D'Haguenet. The champion trainer also has the race as an option for bumper champion Cousin Vinny.