John Durkan rescheduled to next Monday at Punchestown

The Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Steeplechase has been rescheduled for next Monday 19 December at Punchestown following the postponement at the weekend.

Entries will close on Wednesday before declarations to run are due on Saturday.

Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs was the star name in the original field among eight horses before the postponement.

The Grade One-winning hurdler was brilliant in winning three times over fences last season and would have been four from four had he not crashed out at the final fence in the Turners' Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March.

He was one of three remaining Mullins-trained contenders along with last season’s National Hunt Chase victor Stattler and Haut En Couleurs, who also has the option of carrying top-weight in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Gordon Elliott was due to call upon one or both of Conflated and Fury Road. Conflated won last season’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and will be expected to improve from his comeback third in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, the same day as Fury Road won a Grade Two prize.

Joseph O’Brien had planned to saddle four-time Grade One winner Fakir D’oudairies – last seen finishing fifth behind the brilliant Allaho in April’s Punchestown Gold Cup

Meanwhile the Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) has been added to this Sunday’s Navan card after their meeting was called off last Saturday.

That race takes place over three miles and a furlong, replacing the Tara Handicap Hurdles which will move to Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.

Elsewhere in the UK, officials at Ascot fear prospects of racing being staged at the track this week are "very challenging".

A two-day card includes Saturday's Grade One Howden Long Walk