Racing: Hardy Eustace makes a quick reappearance following his Ascot defeat as he lines up in tomorrow's bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Dessie Hughes' dual champion hurdler stepped up in trip for the Long Walk Hurdle last weekend but could not catch Lough Derg. He returns to the minimum distance for the Grade One event in which he will face five rivals.
Jazz Messenger, who has been in fine form this year, is Noel Meade's sole representative from three entries with Aitmatov bypassing the race, while Harchibald ran at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.
Galway Hurdle winner Farmer Brown, second to Jazz Messenger in the Maplewood Developments Hurdle, has another crack at the big guns for Pat Hughes.
Al Eile, who chased home Harchibald in the "Fighting Fifth" Hurdle at Newcastle will have Timmy Murphy back on board while Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Ebaziyan looks to return to winning ways.
Edward O'Grady's Clopf, who dropped out tamely at Newcastle last time, completes the line-up with Greatwood Hurdle winner Sizing Europe is a surprise absentee.
Henry De Bromhead, Sizing Europe's trainer, withdrew his stable star due to a dirty scope.
"He just didn't scope great this morning. It was a routine scope and it wasn't right, so we decided not to risk him," said De Bromhead.
"We run them when they come up dirty (on a scale of) one out of five but not two out of five which is what he was. It was a tough decision but hopefully the right one.
"It's very disappointing but maybe it is for a reason. I think he'll be fine within the next week but it is better to find out today than tomorrow.
"It looks like he'll have to have to go straight for the AIG now, otherwise it is all getting a bit close other wise."
Meade, who has carried all before him this year with high-profile victories for Jazz Messenger, Aitmatov and Harchibald, will run only the first-named.
The seven-year-old has won at the highest level twice before and comfortably beat the teak-tough Sweet Kiln in the Tara Hurdle last time.
"I'd like the rain to stay away for him but we can't change the weather so there is nothing we can do about that. We've decided to go with him anyway," said Meade.
"His jumping was always his biggest problem in the past but he has jumped a lot better in his two runs this year.
"It might only be a small field but it is a very good race.
"We didn't really want Aitmatov and Jazz Messenger to take each other on as it would have meant that Paul (Carberry) would have had to get off one of them.
"I don't know where Aitmatov will go next."
Despite only running seven days ago, Hughes believes Hardy Eustace is still fresh enough to do himself justice.
"I didn't think he had a race at Ascot to be quite honest," said Hughes. "He came home in fine form. He is nice and fresh so at this stage of his career, I don't think it will do him any harm to have another (run).
"He's hardy and tough now, it's not as if he is a young horse. The race has cut up and there is nothing to make it so he should be able to dictate things, and it's a nice prize to go for.
"There are five weeks before the AIG which is his next target so it gives him plenty of time to recover. The others all seem to be beating each other so he might still be good enough, we'll see tomorrow."