Charlie Longsdon's star hurdler Kilcooley, a former 'pointer' with the Roisin Hickey yard, faces a race against time to be fit for the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since running away with the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby in late October.

Longsdon had hoped to have his charge back in action in this weekend's Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, but he is not yet ready to make his return.

Longsdon said: "He was meant to go to the Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday but he has had a few problems.

"He had a haematoma on a point of his hip, which meant he missed the Long Walk, and then he pulled a muscle a few weeks ago.

"We have seven weeks to get him there (Cheltenham) and if we don't get any hiccups and get a clean run he will go, but the chances he makes it are 50-50

"If he gets to Cheltenham he is the forgotten horse in the race, even though he is a 25/1 shot.

"There is always Aintree, Punchestown and France if he doesn't get there."