Weekend D-Day For Eile Hopes

John Queally fears he is losing a race against time to get Al Eile fit for the Cheltenham Festival.

Last year's Champion Hurdle fourth faces a crucial workout on Saturday morning and his chances of making next week's big meeting are described as 50-50.

The 2005 Aintree Hurdle winner has only been back in work a month after being on the easy list since finishing last of four behind Brave Inca at Leopardstown in December.

'His chances of going would be 50-50. We are going to give him a bit of work on Saturday morning. He is only just on his way back. It depends how he works, but time is running out for us,' said the County Waterford trainer.

'We're turning the corner with him, but everything depends on Saturday morning.

'He's had niggly problems. He had a little muscle problem then an infection which we've solved, but he's been on the easy list and time has just caught up with us.

'If he doesn't travel to Cheltenham we'd be looking to Aintree, touch wood.'

Al Eile holds entries in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, for which he is 100-1, and also the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, where he is a 40-1 chance.

(C) PA Sport