If one was asked which racecourse was likely to host the seasonal reintroduction of Kauto Star, the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, chances are Down Royal would be well down the list.

If one was asked which racecourse was likely to host the seasonal reintroduction of Kauto Star, the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, chances are Down Royal would be well down the list. However, this is the scenario and the people at the track in Northern Ireland are chuffed to bits.

Preparations are going smoothly for the prospect of top-class racing at their two-day NI Festival this weekend, with Kauto Star likely to figure in the feature Champion Chase on Saturday.

"Everything's going well and I know Kauto Star and The Listener are definitely coming over for the big race," said Mike Todd, the course general manager. "It's absolutely brilliant, we are very excited about it.

"Paul Nicholls is also sending over Noland for the Killultagh Chase, while Tom Taaffe is sending Fingeronthepulse for a novice event.

"Last year's meeting was a great one for us, with lots of the winners going on to do well throughout the winter. We have an exceptional entry for the Champion Chase this year with 10 of the 19 rated over 150. You have to remember what we are, we're not Punchestown or Cheltenham, so it's fantastic for us."

As for the going, Todd said: "We had about 12 millimetres of rain over the weekend. The track had been drying out really well so that rain set it back. We are predicted a drop in temperature over the next few days, showers forecast with wintry ones as well with maybe up to 10mm of rain but Thursday and Friday are looking pretty good."

Elsewhere, Mike de Kock will prepare Eagle Mountain for the Hong Kong Cup after his fine run in defeat in the Breeders' Cup Turf. The former Aidan O'Brien inmate looked the winner with a furlong to run until Ryan Moore conjured up a devastating burst of speed from Conduit, the St Leger winner.

While the South African trainer was delighted with the performance of his four-year-old, he now thinks he is better over 10 furlongs. "In all my travels around the world this was the greatest racing spectacle I've seen," said De Kock. "I went dizzy as they swung for home, I thought we had it in the bag and shouted like a man possessed. This was a great run and we're elated.

"Kevin Shea rode an excellent race, but the Eagle was outstayed late by the St Leger winner, who had just a bit more in the tank. I have a feeling Eagle Mountain is better over 2000m a mile and a quarter and we will take him to Hong Kong next."

Finally, the Champion Hurdle prospect, Crack Away Jack, is likely to have his next start in the Ascot Hurdle on November 22. The performance of the Emma Lavelle-trained four-year-old on his seasonal debut at Chepstow was given a big boost when Squadron won at Aintree on Sunday.