Sackville will have to endure a thorough medical this morning if he is to put his tag of Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite on the line at Leopardstown.
The Frances Crowley-trained star had a dirty nose yesterday morning but subsequently scoped clear. Nevertheless, no chances will be taken with Sackville, who has jumped to Gold Cup favouritism after First Gold's King George flop.
"I'm pretty sure it's nothing but I don't want to run him if he is not fully right. We will see how he is in the morning and if he can't run, it won't be the end of the world," Crowley said yesterday.
Sackville is declared to run against a quality field in the Ericsson Chase and is still widely regarded as a major championship contender, despite finishing only third to Florida Pearl in the Durkan.
Even Florida Pearl's trainer Willie Mullins commented yesterday: "Sackville is a hell of a horse and the one we've all got to beat at Cheltenham."
Mullins runs Alexander Banquet against the young star today but the former Cheltenham festival winner is expected to need the race having not run since the Hennessy last February.
The double Ericsson winner Rince R∅ ran appallingly in the Durkan and a much more likely danger to all of them is Native Upmanship, who only went down by a short head in that same Durkan.
After Florida Pearl's King George success, it looks really good form and Native Upmanship did have Sackville six lengths back in third. However, there remain doubts about his ability to stay a fast run over three miles on testing ground.
In contrast that is Sackville's speciality, and if he does get through his morning check-up, the 7 to 1 Gold Cup favourite can bring a note of stability to the Cheltenham ante-post market.
The stars are really out in force on the third day of the festival, with Like-A-Butterfly bidding to retain her unbeaten record against just three opponents in the novice hurdle.
The form of her Royal Bond win at Fairyhouse was spectacularly boosted by Sacundai yesterday and the JP McManus mare should be able to stretch her unbeaten career run to six.
Limestone Lad also has just three put against him in the Christmas Hurdle. He has regularly beaten the trio in the past, comes here on the back of an easy Navan win and a notable Hatton's Grace victory, and should get the festive crowd on their feet once again.
The Grade Three Neville & Sons Chase looks much more intriguing. The Drinmore winner Harbour Pilot concedes weight all round, including 11lbs to last season's top novice hurdler Colonel Braxton.
The Colonel only made it to the third on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse where he was brought down. A pre-Christmas outing at Punchestown was ruled out by frost and he now faces a real task on just his second chase start.
However, there is no hiding the regard Colonel Braxton is held in, and all reports of his schooling have been positive. It's a big ask for such a relatively inexperienced horse to win such a good race but this one could be up to it.
Calladine enjoyed a cakewalk when winning the November Handicap on the flat here but faces a much stiffer task in today's handicap hurdle.
For one thing he has to concede a chunk of weight to the smart ex-French horse Sabrinsky, who came good on similar ground to this at Down Royal last month.
