The triple champion hurdler Istabraq will have a maximum of nine opponents on his first start of the season at Leopardstown next Saturday.

Istabraq will be going for a fourth career victory in the December Festival Hurdle but is also on a retrieval mission following his sensational last-flight fall in the race last season.

Moscow Flyer subsequently won that race but this time round, the last day Leopardstown highlight looks lighter in depth.

Ned Kelly is likely to only run if Istabraq misses out, and the Hatton's Grace runner-up Liss A Paoraigh looks the standout among the other nine entries.

McManus said yesterday: "I spoke to Aidan this morning and he said the horse had done a bit of work and he couldn't be happier with him." Istabraq remains an odds-on favourite to win a fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle in March but McManus played down talk of a fourth title.

"It's very hard but if he doesn't do it we'll keep celebrating the third one!" he said.

It will be this morning before Paul Carberry knows if he will be available to ride Florida Pearl in Wednesday's King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The season's leading rider, who partnered the Willie Mullins-trained star to victory in the Durkan earlier in the month, has alternative commitments at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and resolving the dilemma is proving difficult.

However, it is not just the jockey issue that is providing Mullins with a headache as the weather, and a forecast cold snap, could also threaten Florida Pearl's Christmas plans.

"I notice there is an inspection at Ascot and the forecast for afterwards is for things to possibly get worse. I have a couple of options for getting the horse to Kempton but they will all depend on the weather," he said.

If the King George is written off, Florida Pearl will switch to the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on Friday and a clash with stablemate Alexander Banquet as well as the likely favourite, Sackville.