Etoile Set For Hurdling Return

Accordion Etoile is unlikely to tackle the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle on Sunday - but connections are keen to rekindle the gelding's hurdling career.

Paul Nolan is concerned that conditions will be too testing for his nine-year-old to take in the upcoming Leopardstown contest, but has not ruled out a crack at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in March.

The former Grade One-winning chaser needs to show he retains the ability that saw him finish a close-up fourth behind Hardy Eustace in the 2005 Cheltenham showpiece, but Nolan is intending giving him a spin or two on the sand as he nears a return to the track.

With reference to the AIG, Nolan said: 'Lots of these meetings have been cancelled this weekend and I feel it would probably be pointless bringing him back on ground like that.

'He such a good-ground performer that he could get beaten 40 lengths on that and still have run really well.

'But we're looking more to going back hurdling with him now and we're hopeful that he'll show some of his old sparkle in the coming months.

'He'll go away to work a couple of times on the all-weather at Dundalk and that'll give us a truer indication of how he is.

'I'd like to get him back now on some nice ground with a jump in front of him.

'He seems very sound and well. I'll not start blowing any horns but we won't write him off until we've seen what he can do back on the track.'

(C) PA Sport