Willie Mullins confirmed yesterday that Alexander Banquet is likely to return to action in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. The Hennessy winner was ruled out of the Durkan Chase only yesterday morning due to a joint problem, and Mullins is likely to resist the temptation to run the horse next week.
"He is in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock on Saturday and the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday, but I think I'll prepare him instead for the Ericsson and the Hennessy shortly after," Mullins said.
"He was doing everything great all week until this morning when I wasn't quite happy with him. He had a bit of a joint problem. It seems a little thing but I don't want to rush him," he added.
Mullins also reported that Florida Pearl was back riding out yesterday and remains on target for the King George at Kempton.
"We will build things up slowly because he is fairly fit already. He'll be back on the gallops next week," he said.
The action at Punchestown today gets under way with the interesting prospect of Quality Team's first start over hurdles. The former Group Three Curragh Cup winner has been plagued by back problems, but if he translates his flat form over flights, then the Dermot Weld runner will be hard to beat.
Eskimo Jack looked a useful chasing prospect when hacking up at Thurles recently and his followers will be intensely interested in the performance of Quadco in the Beginners Chase. The GPT winner put in a faultless round of jumping at Thurles but couldn't cope with Eskimo Jack from the second last. Time could show he was attempting a difficult task.
Tomorrow's fixture at Clonmel may not have any steeplechase races but the card has been fleshed out to seven races by dividing the mares maiden hurdle three ways.
Punters can get off to a good start with the blinkered Mirpour, who found only the highly regarded Golden Cross's form too good for him in graded company at Fairyhouse a week ago.
The ex-Aidan O'Brien trained Masteroffoxhounds is first reserve for the bumper, but if managing to get into the race, the horse looks hard to beat.
The top hurdler Ballyhampshire Boy has had to be put down. The Seán Aherne-trained horse was badly injured in his dramatic last flight fall when leading Limestone Lad at Navan three weeks ago. Ballyhampshire Boy was one of the top novice hurdlers in the country last season.
