Youlneverwalkalone has been dogged by misfortune on his British trips this season but Christy Roche's other top jumper Grimes is set to try and put the record straight in Wincaton's Kingwell Hurdle.
Ground conditions permitting, Grimes is being aimed at the Kingwell in two weeks, a race that was used as a pre-Cheltenham warm up by the Champion Hurdle winner Alderbrook in 1995.
Grimes is a 25 to 1 shot with Paddy Power for this year's championship although Roche said yesterday he is unlikely to take on the fellow JP McManus owned Istabraq in that race.
"Grimes and Youlneverwalkalone are in the Champion Hurdle if JP needs them but with Istabraq going for four in a row I hope he won't have to need them," Roche said yesterday.
The Stayers Hurdle is Youlneverwalkalone's prime festival target and while a likely Cheltenham option for Grimes has not been finalised, Roche is not expecting the Shell Champion Hurdle winner to overly feel the effects of not having raced since last May.
"He's been back in since before Christmas and is ready to get a race under his belt. Everyone knows the ground plays a big part with him but all going well he will run at Wincanton. Everything seems great with him at the moment," he said.
Youlneverwalkalone has got over his second flight fall in the Cleeve Hurdle which compounded his early season disappointment in Cheltenham's Bula Hurdle.
"He has a choice of two races the weekend after next. There's the Red Mills at Gowran and if the ground is too bad there he could go for the three mile Boyne Hurdle at Navan. I would prefer the shorter race at this stage but he is being prepared for the Stayers," said Roche.
Gowran's fixture on Saturday week is also likely to feature Nick Dundee's last Cheltenham warm up in the Red Mills Chase. But Edward O'Grady's immediate concern, however, will be on Sunday's INH Novice Hurdle where the hot Gerrard Supreme Novices Hurdle hope Ned Kelly is likely to run. But the 4/1 Weatherbys Festival bumper favourite Beechcourt will miss his intended start and instead wait for Cheltenham.
There are no problems expected weather wise for the weekend Fairyhouse fixture and the course manager Dick Shiel said yesterday: "The ground is no worse than soft at the moment and it's expected to be dry until Friday with milder temperatures forecast for Saturday and Sunday."
The bookmakers believe there will be four Irish winners at the Cheltenham festival this year and the leading jockey will be Tony McCoy.
Cashmans go 7 to 2 for four Irish winners while Paddy Power offer 7 to 2 for four or five.
