The Harchibald team are facing an anxious week to see if the ground will allow the Champion Hurdle favourite to run in Sunday's AIG at Leopardstown but his main market rival for the Cheltenham crown will have no such concerns.
Back In Front has been something of the forgotten horse among the six Irish-trained contenders at the head of the Cheltenham ante-post betting and that might continue all the way to the festival itself.
His trainer Edward O'Grady said yesterday that Gowran Park's Red Mills Trial on February 12th is the only possible warm-up race being considered for Back In Front and that option might not even be taken up.
"I don't know yet whether he will run in it or not but it is the only possible race I would consider," said O'Grady. "I never even entered him in the AIG because I didn't want to be tempted into running him."
Back In Front is currently a 13 to 2 second choice for Cheltenham behind the favourite Harchibald but there is much tighter ante-post betting for Sunday's AIG Irish Champion Hurdle because of the state of the ground.
Noel Meade has stated that any threat of heavy conditions would automatically rule out his Morgiana and Fighting Fifth winner but the Leopardstown authorities are hopeful that will not be the case.
"It's yielding to soft on the hurdles course and although it's a long way away yet, the forecast says there shouldn't be too much of a change," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke yesterday. "What we always say to trainers is that they are quite welcome to come and walk the track. It's perfectly safe ground, it will also be fresh ground and the rail will be out eight yards wider than it was for the Pierse," he added.
"The forecast is for it to be very cold on Tuesday with possibly some sleet showers but then turning milder for the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It's supposed to get dry and cooler again for the weekend," Burke reported.
Meade said yesterday: "Anything up to soft would be okay but I definitely won't run him on heavy. I will still leave him in and his participation depends on the weather."
That was enough for Paddy Power to quote Harchibald at 3 to 1 for the AIG but with the proviso that he is a doubtful runner.
Jessica Harrington, trainer of the favourite Macs Joy, has no such concerns and confirmed yesterday: "Macs Joy has always handled soft going well so it's not a worry."
Macs Joy was the one ante-post punters were interested in ahead of today's forfeit stage and the Bewleys winner was backed down to 2 to 1 favourite.
BETTING: (Paddy Power): 2 Macs Joy, 3 Brave Inca and Harchibald, 9-2 Hardy Eustace, 11-2 Solerina, 7 Accordion Etoile, 10 Georges Girl, 16 Foreman, 20 Power Elite.
Meanwhile, the results of a blood test this morning will determine if Like-A-Butterfly can run in Sunday's Baileys Arkle Trophy at Leopardstown but her trainer Christy Roche has conceded she is "unlikely" to make the line-up.
The former AIG winner made an ultra-impressive chasing debut before a blood disorder resulted in her being pulled up at Leopardstown over Christmas. It looks like the problems she has encountered then haven't gone away yet.
"She had blood taken this morning and it will be interesting to see the results. If they're okay, we'll do a little work with her in the morning and then make a decision. But to me it looks unlikely, Roche said yesterday.
If Like-A-Butterfly doesn't make her weekend target, she could be kept instead for the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase on Hennessy day next month but Roche stressed the main thing is to get the mare back fit and well.
One former AIG winner who will line up in Sunday's big chase is Ned Kelly who made a promising return to action at Christmas behind Mariah Rollins in the Durkan New Homes Chase.
"At the moment he is an intended runner. I haven't been hard on him since Christmas and I would expect Sunday's race to be another rung on the ladder," said Edward O'Grady.
Mariah Rollins will not take her shot at a Leopardstown Grade One double up and another Grade One winner missing from Sunday's race will be the Drinmore victor Watson Lake.
A significant absentee from the list of entries for Cheltenham's Ladbrokes World Hurdle is Sacundai who will miss out on the rest of the season.
"He has had a recurrence of the injury he had last season and sadly misses out on this season," said Edward O'Grady of his former Aintree Hurdle winner. O'Grady also confirmed that the Cheltenham Gold Cup outsider Pizarro is on target for his next start in the Hennessy Gold Cup next month.
Navan will hold an inspection this morning to see if tomorrow's rescheduled fixture can go ahead. The track is currently raceable but an adverse weather forecast has resulted in an early precautionary inspection.
