The Kempton authorities hopes of luring Istabraq away from his traditional Christmas date at Leopardstown were finally dashed by Aidan O'Brien yesterday.
The Ballydoyle trainer confirmed that the December Festival Hurdle, on the last day of Leopardstown's Christmas fixture, will be the triple champion hurdler's first start of the season.
The Pertemps Christms Hurdle on St Stephen's Day had been held out as a possible alternative for the JP McManus-owned superstar especially since the owner's First Gold is a warm favourite for the King George VI Chase on the same day.
However, O'Brien said: "The plan is to go to Leopardstown. Obviously there was a possibility he might have gone to England but the plan really has always been to run him at Leopardstown."
O'Brien added it is "so far, so good" in terms of Istabraq's preparation for the Festival Hurdle where the horse was a last-flight faller on heavy ground last season.
O'Brien, who reports that the Breeders' Cup-placed Bach will remain in training next year after an unplaced effort in Hong Kong at the weekend, has two other horses for the National Hunt season, Kilcash Castle and Darapour, and the latter could make an appearance also at Leopardstown over Christmas.
The recent cold weather has turned this afternoon's fixture at Punchestown into an all-hurdles card with the two-mile maiden hurdle divided three ways.
The season's leading ride, Paul Carberry, misses out today due to a bruised leg he picked up in a fall at Cork on Sunday while Conor O'Dwyer also bypasses today's action as he gets ready for weekend commitments.
The McManus colours will be visible on better horses than Artane Boys over the festive period but the horse, who fell three out in the Fairyhouse race won by Davenport Milenium earlier in the month, should be good enough to race prominently in the opener.
Native View ran a promising third to Columba at Fairyhouse last week and can go in in the second division while Diamonds Will Do, second to Hariya in a Naas maiden on the Flat last year, could be the answer to the third.
Shabra Lady was right in contention at today's handicap hurdle distance at Fairyhouse last week and could be the value this time.
