Henry De Bromhead will be keeping a close eye on Sizing Europe between now and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham but if he looks over his shoulder he may see Hardy Eustace's trainer, Dessie Hughes, taking a rather keen interest in Irish hurdling's new superstar too.

Hughes yesterday outlined a stark choice for Hardy Eustace with the Ladbrokes World Hurdle a likely target if his AIG conqueror, Sizing Europe, makes it to the Champion intact but a swift return to the two-mile highlight if he doesn't.

"If the De Bromhead horse gets there in good shape then we will probably sidestep him and run in the longer race instead. But there's six weeks to go and a lot can happen.

"I would be seriously tempted to run in the Champion again if the other horse doesn't get there. Our horse has beaten the best of the other Irish this season and I don't think any of the horses in England are up to the standard of recent years.

"We will enter in both races. The longer race would mean going into the unknown and taking on Inglis Drever which might be no harder than taking on Sizing Europe. We will see closer to the time and there's nothing confirmed yet," Hughes said yesterday.

Hardy Eustace was beaten eight lengths by Sizing Europe in last Sunday's AIG but is still officially rated 161 by the handicapper after being dropped only 1lb after last weekend's action.

The 2004 and 2005 Champion Hurdle winner is a general 12 to 1 shot in ante-post betting for the World Hurdle but has lengthened to 25 to 1 for the Champion.

In contrast to the Hardy Eustace camp, Edward O'Grady is currently maintaining a take it or leave it attitude to the Cheltenham Festival for his star double Grade One-winning novice chaser, Sky's The Limit.

The grey is on course to run in Sunday week's Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown and the outcome of that race will be a big factor in whether or not Sky's The Limit will take the Cheltenham route or stay at home for the Powers Gold Cup at Easter.

The O'Grady runner is as low as 10 to 1 for the SunAlliance and 16 to 1 for the Arkle despite his trainer's repeated view that the two-and-a-half-mile Fairyhouse Grade One could be a better route for the horse.

"Cheltenham has neither been ruled in or out and I'm not more or less tempted by it at the moment," O'Grady said. "He worked after racing at Leopardstown last Sunday and seems to be in good shape. I hope to have a better idea of where he will go after his next race."

The Co Tipperary trainer also nominated the Flyingbolt Chase at Navan in two and a half weeks time as a possible target for his Grade One-winning hurdler Clopf who made a winning debut over fences at Navan last weekend.

That was enough for bookmakers to install Clopf as a 14 to 1 in some lists for the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins has the PJ Moriarty option for his pair of ex-French mares, Pomme Tiepy and J'y Vole, although he is not likely to confirm running plans until next week.

However, Mullins does intend to run his 2005 Grand National hero Hedgehunter in Sunday week's feature, the Hennessy Gold Cup, an event that the Co Carlow trainer has dominated in recent years.

"The plan is to run in the Hennessy next and the National has always been his main target this season," said Mullins yesterday.

Hedgehunter was a Hennessy runner-up in 2006 but Mullins's record in the race is remarkable with six wins including a four-timer for Florida Pearl (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004). The 2005 winner, Rule Supreme, is also an entry for the Hennessy as is Snowy Morning who is as low as 14 to 1 in some lists for this year's Aintree National.

"Snowy Morning is well and we are still seriously considering the National for him. But I haven't quite made up my mind yet where he will run next," Mullins added.

Tony Martin intends giving his Aintree National hope Dun Doire a run over hurdles at Punchestown this Sunday. The former Thyestes and William Hill National Hunt Chase winner hasn't been seen since being pulled up in last April's National at Aintree but is ready for a first start of the season over the smaller obstacles. Martin also confirmed yesterday that his Troytown winner, Royal County Star, will have a spin over hurdles soon in preparation for the Irish National at Fairyhouse.