Michael Hourigan estimates Hi Cloy has a "seventy five per cent chance" of overcoming a foot injury to run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day but also reported yesterday that Beef Or Salmon is on target for a remarkable fourth Lexus Chase success at Leopardstown next week.

Hi Cloy picked up a foot bruise earlier this week that threatens his planned Christmas trip to Britain.

However, the four-time Grade One winner did a small piece of work at Hourigan's Co Limerick yard yesterday which has lifted hopes of him taking on Kauto Star and Co at Kempton.

"He did a little bit this morning and I would say he has a seventy five per cent chance of running in the King George," the trainer said.

"If he is alright in the morning, I'd say we will be okay but he would then have to do a good bit of work on Friday morning."

No such complications are interrupting preparations for Hi Cloy's stable companion Beef Or Salmon who is on course for another clash with the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition in tomorrow week's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Beef Or Salmon beat his rival by four easy lengths in last year's edition of the Grade One prize and also got the better of War Of Attrition in a titanic struggle for October's James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

War Of Attrition comprehensively got the better of Beef Or Salmon in the Gold Cup but the Hourigan-trained star is at his best around Leopardstown when conditions are testing.

This time he will attempt to add to other victories in 2002 and 2004 when Beef Or Salmon relegated Best Mate to second. He also has two Hennessy Gold Cup successes to his name at the track.

"He's in good form and came out of his hurdle race at Fairyhouse last weekend okay. He's well in himself and the ground won't matter to him," Hourigan said.

In addition to War Of Attrition, Beef Or Salmon's opposition is also likely to include the French star L'Ami as well as The Listener from Robert Alner's yard in Devon.

"I was delighted with his run at Sandown behind Star D Mohaison. Having fallen at the last twice last season, it was important to get round. He ran a good race against a good horse," said Alner.

"He likes soft ground - it can't be too soft. Beef Or Salmon has won the race three times and is obviously in good form having a hurdles race."

The English horse is among the eight that remain in the Lexus after yesterday's forfeit stage, a list that also includes Southern Vic and Wild Passion.

Both of those horses are also among the 16 entries for the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle but Asian Maze, who is among them, and also figures in the following day's December Festival Hurdle, is more likely to miss Leopardstown altogether.

The star mare's trainer Tom Mullins is instead eyeing the Christmas Hurdle over two miles at Kempton where Ruby Walsh, who rides Kauto Star in the King George on the same day, could again team up with Asian Maze.

"I'm told the ground is good at Kempton and while that's not set in stone, it does make that race favourite," Mullins said yesterday.

"I stuck her in the two races at Leopardstown in case there were weather problems and to see how they would shape up. But if it's heavy at Leopardstown she wouldn't be going there at all anyway."

In Asian Maze's possible absence, Brave Inca will have a maximum field of just five opponents in Friday week's big two-mile hurdle which he won last year on route to Cheltenham glory in March.

The champion hurdler looked to have a hard race when beating Rosaker and Brogella in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier in the month but his trainer Colm Murphy is happy with his condition ahead of Christmas.

"I'm surprised at how well he has come out of the last day. Obviously I was a bit afraid of him having a hard race but it mustn't have been as bad as it looked.

"He must have been doing the bare minimum," Murphy said yesterday.

"Dry weather this week should help the ground but I don't think it will change things too much at this time of year. What we don't want is heavy ground."

The champion chaser Newmill will again run in the race having led into the straight last year but Brave Inca's biggest challenge is likely to come from the rising star of the hurdling scene, Iktitaf who landed the Morgiana on his last start.

The other Day Three Grade One prize at Leopardstown will be the Powers Whiskey Novice Chase which has attracted an entry of 19 horses including the Drinmore winner Cailin Alainn.

Charles Byrnes's mare will be looking for six-in-a-row in the three-mile event and her opposition could again include the Drinmore third Gazza's Girl as well as O'Muircheartaigh from Edward O'Grady's stable.