RACING: Despite his horrific last-fence fall at Leopardstown on Sunday, Le Coudray could still make the line-up for Cheltenham's SunAlliance Chase next month.

Trainer Christy Roche reported yesterday that the horse has emerged from his ordeal in remarkable shape and the festival option is still firmly in sight.

"He did well to get up intact and he has come out of it very well. Usually they can be stiff and sore for a few days after something like that but everything looks good with him," Roche said.

Le Coudray was taken out of some bookmaker lists for Cheltenham after Sunday but his festival participation will depend on the state of the going more than anything else.

"Without soft ground he will be going nowhere but if the ground is suitable Cheltenham is still possible. I would imagine we will make some kind of decision in the next 10 days about the way to go," Roche added.

The JP McManus-owned star is still as low as 7 to 1 for the SunAlliance despite being an odds-on failure at the weekend. Roche, however, was unconcerned with the way the race panned out.

"I wasn't surprised that Barrow Drive was so close to him on Sunday because my horse had had a break and I was a little bit concerned going in that I hadn't him in the same shape as he was for the Denny," he said.

Also on the novice front, Dermot Weld said yesterday that Stage Affair's most likely weekend option from a number of entries is the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan. That would be a first chase start for the high-class hurdler and Weld is not happy that Stage Affair was denied a run at Naas last Saturday after being balloted out. "I regret he didn't get the opportunity to run at Naas and I was disappointed with the merit system that is in operation.

"This is a 140-rated hurdler that was third to Like-A-Butterfly in an Irish Champion Hurdle and he still cannot get into a novice chase. The idea of merit is to get the best horses on show for the public and I think the system needs a little modification and tweaking."

There is also no doubt about today's star performer at Down Royal where Pizarro tries to get his Cheltenham momentum back on track in the conditions hurdle.

Last season's Festival Bumper winner hasn't started since finishing 33 lengths behind Solerina at Navan in mid-December, after which mucus was found in his throat. It has been an anxious time for the O'Grady camp in getting him back but it will be a major surprise if the 8 to 1 fourth favourite for the SunAlliance cannot take care of this opposition in his sleep.

That Navan defeat was the first of Pizarro's five-race career and he comprehensively out-pointed Solerina in his first start over hurdles in the "Monksfield" in November.

Ruby Walsh travels north for a couple of rides on Michael O'Brien-trained horses and the Gowran bumper runner-up Banusal could make the trip worth while in the maiden hurdle.

Walsh is also on the good staying hurdler Kadoun in the Beginners Chase but the trip may be still on the short side.

Beausheram boasts a 123 rating but hasn't run in over a year and Saddler's Mark has been relatively disappointing. Maybe the Fairyhouse runner-up Kings Glen could be the solution.

Yerawildman ran a nice debut behind the talented Kim Fontaine at Thurles and looks the safest bumper option.