Mansony remains on track to fly the flag for Ireland in Saturday's Victor Chandler Chase as Arthur Moore bids to bridge a nine-year gap at the new-look Ascot.
The Co Kildare trainer landed the prestigious two-mile event in 1998 with the grey Jeffell, ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, and has also finished runner-up with Feroda.
Mansony returned to winning form on soft ground at Leopardstown over Christmas and is one of 12 remaining in the Victor Chandler after yesterday's forfeit stage. This, however, will be the first renewal of the race at the new course at Ascot, which has already tended to produce faster ground for this time of year than is usually expected.
Moore has stated soft going would not be a problem for Mansony but said yesterday, "We will take what comes. The ground will be what it will be. There's nothing much we can do about it. The horse is in good form and Davy Russell will ride."
The Mark Rimmell-trained Oneway tops the weights for the Victor Chandler while the champion British trainer Paul Nicholls has Santsaire at the other end of the weight scale.
Saturday's home focus will be at Naas, where the top mare Asian Maze could return to action in the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle.
Tom Mullins's star performer is one of 19 entries remaining in the event, over two miles and three furlongs, which has also attracted the two-mile champion chaser Newmill.
The latter's trainer, John Murphy, also has the option of Sunday's Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse and appeared to be leaning toward a return to fences.
"A lot will depend on the ground. I don't want to make up my mind until about Thursday because I want to see what the weather brings. I wouldn't mind soft ground but I don't want some brutal quagmire," he said.
"At this stage I would like to get him back over fences. He is in brilliant form and I may go to have a look at what the ground is like for myself at both Naas and Fairyhouse. We will have to see later in the week," Murphy added.
Tom Mullins has similar ground worries for Asian Maze, who has two other pre-Cheltenham options in her sights.
"There is the race at Naas, the AIG and the Red Mills at Gowran. We will play it by ear but if there is some nice ground on Saturday, I'd say she's likely to run," Mullins said yesterday.
"We'll decide then what else to do. If she does run at the weekend, we could run her afterwards in the Red Mills, or maybe even go straight to Cheltenham."
Mullins also had an upbeat report on Sunday's Pierse Hurdle third, New Field, who has next month's Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury as a possible next start.
"Tony McCoy gave him a few clatters on Sunday but the horse didn't leave an oat when he got home," said the trainer. "He's come out of it very well. There's a race he's in at Thurles on Thursday so we'll see how he is."
Saturday's Grade Two event at Naas will be the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novices Chase, which has another smart mare, Gazza's Girl, among its 12 remaining entries.
Gazza's Girl was still travelling easily when exiting at the second last in the Grade One won by Cailin Alainn at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Also among the dozen entries are O'Muircheartaigh and Snowy Morning, who was a beaten favourite behind Baron De Feypo at the track nine days ago.
Noel Meade won last year's Irish Racing Writers Novices Hurdle with Sweet Wake and has three options for the race this time, including Aitmatov, who bypassed Sunday's Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Jockey Danny Howard hopes to return to action next week after emerging without major injury from a fall from Takendo at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Howard was taken to hospital with suspected fractures to an ankle and an arm but said yesterday, "I'm not too bad - nothing's broken anyway. The arm could have been bad because I broke it before and the ankle is sore but nothing a few days off won't cure."
Tom Taaffe's Arkle hope Glenfinn Captain is recovering from a colic operation and won't be seen in action again for a year.
"He was operated on early on Saturday," Taaffe said. "He's out for a year but hopefully he'll be back. The signs are good so far."
