Lexus renewal for Durkan principals

In Compliance and War Of Attrition, first and second in a thrilling John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday, are on course to clash again in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

'The horse seems to have come out of Sunday’s race well,' said trainer Mouse Morris of his stable star War Of Attrition at the HRI awards lunch in Dublin on Monday, at which the Gold Cup winner was voted Horse of the Year for 2006.

'The Lexus Chase on 28 December is the next stop once everything remains well with him.'

It could be the last opportunity for Irish racegoers to see Michael O’Leary's gelding in action before March, as the current plan is to go straight to Cheltenham to defend his Gold Cup crown without another run after the Lexus.

Trainer Michael O’Brien was considering sending In Compliance to Kempton to contest the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day, but may now allow the six-year-old run in the Lexus instead.

'The King George comes very soon, it’s just over two weeks away and it would mean sending him over before Christmas and taking on the Gold Cup favourite.'

In other fall-out from Punchestown on Sunday, the Dusty Sheehy-trained Turtle Dubh is on track for the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on 27 December after lowering the colours of the highly-regarded Leading Run in the two-mile novices' hurdle, while Noel Meade's Toofarback, who won the beginners' chase, is likely to take his chance in the Powers Whiskey Novice Chase at the Foxrock venue on 28 December.

Also, the Michael Hickey-trained Ballistraw has been cut to 10-1 favourite from 14-1 with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Chase the previous day following his gallant victory in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase.