The chances of an early season clash between the Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition and Beef Or Salmon at Down Royal on Saturday week look to have increased after the older horse put in a most encouraging run over hurdles at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Beef Or Salmon found only Pedrobob too good in a two-mile conditions event and yesterday his trainer Michael Hourigan revealed that the horse had had a less than clear run into that race. "He had four stitches in his pastern and it held him up for 10 days," Hourigan said before nominating the James Nicholson Chase as Beef Or Salmon's next target.

"He ran a cracker on Saturday and I really wanted to run him as his next race is only on Saturday week," he added before confirming a fifth attempt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March is likely. "I would imagine he will certainly travel to the Gold Cup again. He will be only 11 next year."

The Nicholson was also nominated as a possible target for War Of Attrition after he made a winning comeback at Punchestown last week. Mouse Morris had intended to run his star in the Nicholson last year only for the meeting to be cancelled due to a bomb scare.

There was less positive news for Noel Meade over the weekend as his SunAlliance Hurdle winner Nicanor has been ruled out for the season due to a leg problem.

"He was ready for a run and we worked him the other day. Unfortunately there was heat in his leg that evening. We had it scanned and it showed 10 to 15 per cent damage to his tendon. There is nothing to do but sit an suffer and he will probably be out for 12 months," said Meade.

However, Asian Maze is on course to return to racing soon with trainer Tom Mullins torn between four options for her comeback. Punchestown's Morgiana, the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, the Boylesports International at Cheltenham or the Hatton' Grace at Fairyhouse will be used by the triple Grade One winner.