Tramore earmarked as starting point for Monty's Star
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Monty's Star is set to make his seasonal reappearance at Tramore on New Year's Day as trainer Henry de Bromhead plots a path to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The seven-year-old won a beginners' chase at Punchestown last year before heading to the Cheltenham Festival for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
He found only odds-on favourite Fact To File too good that day as he was beaten three and three-quarter lengths into second by Willie Mullins' charge, who is the current ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham showpiece in March.
Monty's Star was again second to another live Gold Cup contender in Spillane's Tower in the Grade One Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown when last seen.
De Bromhead will now point him at the Grade Three O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey New Year's Day Chase at the County Waterford circuit, as he puts together a schedule in preparation for Prestbury Park.
"We're aiming Monty's Star for the race," De Bromhead said.
"He had a good season last season and we've decided to go for the Gold Cup with him, obviously his form is rock-solid.
"He's going to aim to start there and possibly Minella Indo, we'll see nearer the time."
Monty's Star also holds an entry in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown as De Bromhead keeps his options open, but he hopes he has take a step forward from last season.
Speaking to journalist Dave Keena, De Bromhead added: "Very much so, he was beaten in two Grade Ones. Fact To File beat him at Cheltenham and then Jimmy Mangan's horse, Spillane's Tower, beat him in Punchestown so his form is bang there.
"We're hoping he's improved and he seems well."
Meanwhile, Cian Collins' Impero is on course to bid for a four-timer in Saturday's Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot.
The five-year-old has made a strong start to his National Hunt career since switching codes from the yard of Michael Cleary to Collins in September.
His debut for the Navan-based handler saw him finish second in a Listowel handicap hurdle before he tasted victory for the first time at the 19th attempt after a fruitless 17-race career on the Flat.
Making all in the hands of Jordan Gainford in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick he pulled clear in the final furlong to score by seven lengths.
He followed that up at Cheltenham when Danny Gilligan steered him to a three-quarters-of-a-length victory over Norman Fletcher after hitting the front over the final flight.
Impero defied a 6lb rise to complete his hat-trick when again making all and pulling clear to win a novice hurdle by seven lengths at Musselburgh most recently.
Despite the rise in grade this weekend, Collins is confident there is more to come from his charge.
Collins said: "He seems in good form and he's an improving horse so hopefully he can be competitive in that race on Saturday.
"It is a step up in grade for him (on Saturday) but I don't think he can have been any more impressive at Musselburgh and a strong gallop would suit him. I think the race is going to suit him.
"He settled in very well with us and he's just enjoying it. He loves jumping so hopefully we can get a little bit of improvement out of him on Saturday.
"We look forward to Saturday and that's been the aim since he won at Cheltenham. We'll get over that hurdle first and then see where we go."