The returning hero Nick Dundee is set to be the horse to carry Sue Magnier's colours in Leopardstown's Ericsson Chase. Edward O'Grady confirmed yesterday he is training Nick Dundee for the likely Thursday week clash with Alexander Banquet and Dorans Pride.

As a result the Durkan winner Native Upmanship, also owned by Magnier but trained by Arthur Moore, could have a restful Christmas as an alternative trip to England for the King George is believed unlikely. A Magnier spokesman had earlier said it was unlikely that both horses would run in the same race.

O'Grady also reported his Tripleprint Gold Cup winner Go Roger Go as "more possible than probable" for the lucrative paddypower.com Chase on Wednesday week.

"There's a question mark about him running. Physically he is absolutely perfect but he is more possible than probable, particularly with soft ground likely," he said.

However, most attention will be on Nick Dundee who is as low as 14 to 1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup following his recent emotional return to action from serious injury at Navan.

The Ericsson will be a much serious test of his fitness and O'Grady admitted it would be "extraordinary" if the former brilliant novice were to win over Christmas.

"The intention is to run Nick Dundee but we have to be realistic about the situation. He's as fit as we can get him but he cannot be quite at concert pitch yet."

Another Christmas highlight at Leopardstown will be the return to action of last season's leading hurdler Stage Affair although it hasn't been confirmed if the Dermot Weld-trained runner will start over fences or remain over hurdles.

Stage Affair reportedly schooled satisfactorily at Fairyhouse last week but still holds an entry in Istabraq's intended comeback race, the AIB December Festival Hurdle. "He will run at Christmas but there are no firm plans about what in. I would say it's 50-50 about fences or hurdles. A lot will depend on where other horses run and how races shape up. We'll wait and see until closer the time," Weld's son, Mark, reported yesterday.

"We haven't done a lot of schooling with him. We've brought him back slowly. The intention had been to run before now but it's just been so wet it was pointless to start him. Wherever he runs I expect it will bring him on," he added.

Stage Affair hasn't started since running third to Grimes in last May's Shell Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.