Arnaud returns at Downpatrick Charles Byrnes is looking forward to getting Arnaud back on the track when the five-year-old returns from a six-month absence at Downpatrick on Friday. Arnaud had an enforced break after winning twice over fences at Killarney and Roscommon, beating Rebel Fitz and Steps To Freedom. Byrnes is giving Arnaud his comeback in the Customer Care Christmas Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles, for which there are just five runners. "He's in good form and the conditions of the race appear to suit him so we're hoping for a big run," said the County Limerick trainer. "He just went lame behind in the summer and we had to give him a break, which was a pity, but he's back now. The race is no soft touch for him. He'll probably go off favourite, but there are a couple in it with chances." A return to chasing is planned after his comeback run, with Byrnes adding: "There is nothing for him over Christmas so it'll be after Christmas until he runs again." Mark McNiff is bullish about the prospects of Seskinane, who was a good third to Rule The World at Naas in October on his first start for five months. "He ran very well in Naas and if he had jumped a little bit slicker he might have been closer and could probably have been second. He was just a bit ponderous," said the Sligo trainer. "He had a good run in a bumper at Downpatrick earlier in the year and won his point-to-point on a similar track so we've no worries about him handling the track. "I'd be slightly more confident on worse ground - the more it rains the better - but we're expecting a big run."
