A New Story and Nina Carberry will face the unusual challenge of the world's longest cross-country race on Thursday.
Limerick trainer Michael Hourigan has decided to take the veteran chaser to Le Lion-d'Angers, a course in the west of France, for the Prix Anjou-Loire Challenge over an extended four and a half miles.
The event is the fourth race in the Crystal Cup Cross Country Challenge, a series of races across Europe which culminates at Cheltenham in November.
A New Story is well-versed at such tasks as a winner of the Cheltenham Festival cross-country event, and he proved he is no back number just yet by finishing fifth in the Irish Grand National on his most recent outing.
"He's travelled over all right and we're really looking forward to it," said Hourigan from France.
"I haven't yet seen the course apart from on tape, but I think there's only 12 or 13 runners and the prize money is very good.
"It's a long race, but the horse is very well. We've got Nina riding him as my usual jockey (Adrian Heskin) is out of action for a few months."
The race has attracted other Irish and British runners, headed by the Denis Murphy-trained Another Jewel, the winner last year.
James Reveley, recently appointed stable jockey to Nick Williams, will be aboard the talented if frustrating Maljimar. He won a race over a shorter trip at Compiegne last month, while Suzy Smith runs Pass Me By.
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