El Fabiolo remains on course to clash with Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday, should the meeting go ahead.
With the majority of Britain experiencing an ultra-cold snap at present, Ascot's premier fixture remains in the balance on Saturday.
However, should the meeting get the go-ahead, it promises to throw up one the most exciting clashes the National Hunt season has had to offer thus far, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon taking on Willie Mullins' El Fabiolo in the feature two-mile chase.
The score is currently tied at one a piece with Jonbon getting the better of the Mullins contender over hurdles at Aintree before El Fabiolo produced a sparkling display to beat the former in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
Ascot lost the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase to the weather last season, with the two-mile prize rerouted to Cheltenham the following week. However, should the same happen this time around, El Fabiolo would be unlikely to make the journey to Prestbury Park with options closer to home likely to be preferred.
Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, assistant trainer Patrick Mullins issued a positive update on the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned star.
Mullins said: "We took him to the Curragh yesterday, Paul (Townend) rode him, and he went very well so the plan at the moment is to head to Ascot at the weekend,"
"The plan is, as long as the race is going to go ahead, we'll probably take the boat on Thursday afternoon. If it's called off and he had to come home, we'll probably wait for the Dublin Racing Festival which is on our doorstep and worth great money as well."
He added: "To be honest I'd have thought the Dublin Racing Festival seemed the more obvious choice, but Willie, Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede, owners) seemed very keen to go to Ascot.
"Jonbon looks like a horse who is improving all the time and he's a brother to Douvan, but I think we were very unlucky not to beat him in the novice hurdle (at Aintree), we got hampered at the third-last and made a mistake at the last and we beat him well at Cheltenham last year.
"You never know, the score is 1-1, hopefully, we can make it 2-1 but there will be another rematch later if we don't.
"It will be a spectacular race, great for the sport. Both teams are going in thinking they have a live chance.
"It's a bit like in boxing when you get a trilogy. Hopefully, they all get there, and the race pans out as you hope, but we're delighted with our fellow.
"He's not a natural super-sharp two-miler (over a fence), he does have his own style. The day he won at the DRF with Daryl (Jacob) he put down at the fourth-last, but he seems to know where he is putting his feet. He generally keeps his hind end low which gives him a good centre of balance and, touch wood, while it is his own style, it does seem to be very effective."
Ascot released an update on conditions through social media: "The track is currently frozen in places under the covers in the shaded areas of the racecourse.
"This is an improvement on yesterday morning, but the forecast indicates a more severe forecast over the next two nights with temperatures due to drop as low as minus 5C.
"The forecast beyond that remains conflicting with the possibility of milder conditions arriving. We will continue to monitor and update as we get closer to raceday."
