Ireland's star novice Youlneverwalkalone will run in next Tuesday's Capel Cure Sharp Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The JP McManus-owned horse was yesterday confirmed a runner in the two-mile event, ending prolonged speculation of a clash with the top English horse Monsignor in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle.
A final decision about which race the unbeaten Youlneverwalkalone would run in next week had been expected at the weekend but trainer Christy Roche made his mind up yesterday morning.
'Myself and JP had a chat and he asked about which race we should go for. I was easy about it but I think Conor (O'Dwyer) favours the two mile race. I never had any worries about the horse tackling a trip but Conor is of the opinion that he has more pace than I've been giving him credit for,' Roche said.
A clash with Monsignor is now out of the question and if Dermot Weld decides to re-route Stage Affair from the Supreme Novices' to the Champion Hurdle, Youlneverwalkalone is likely to start one of the hottest favourites of the Festival.
Willie Mullins will have a team of four in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper which the Co Carlow trainer has won three times. Be My Royal has been added to the favourite Adamant Approach, Bally Amber and Tuesday and amateur James Nash will ride.
Mullins has finalised the other riding arrangements with Jason Titley riding Adamant Approach, Paul Carberry on Bally Amber and Ruby Walsh on Tuesday. The latter's other Festival rides will include Balla Sola in the Champion Hurdle, Alexander Banquet in the SunAlliance Chase and General Cloney in the Triumph Hurdle.
It's strictly more limited fare at Thurles this afternoon but that won't matter to the championship-seeking Barry Geraghty who looks to have reasonable prospects of a double.
Currently on the 60-winner mark, nine ahead of his nearest rival Conor O'Dwyer, Geraghty rides The Hen Hut for Lombardstown trainer Eugene O'Sullivan in the second division of the Comeragh Maiden Hurdle and this one is taken to bounce back from a disappointing 11th to The Glow Worm at Fairyhouse last time.
The first division looks good for Jim Dreaper's Caledonian Bridge who ran into the Coral Cup hope Ross Moff at Down Royal over Christmas and before that had run a decent fourth to Senanjar and Champagne Native at Punchestown.
Geraghty can bring up his double, however, on Noel Meade's Andrea Cova who ran over the course and distance of the Beginners Chase last time and only gave best in the closing stages to Nosalil.
Ruby Walsh could land his first winner since returning from injury on Irvine in the novice handicap chase while Camden West is taken to follow up his track victory last time in the Silvermines Hurdle.
