Apache Stronghold is rated a major doubt for today's Navan Novice Hurdle after developing a foot abscess.

The Noel Meade-trained five-year-old has created a big impression in winning both his starts this season and was set for a mouth-watering clash with WIllie Mullins' Briar Hill

But Meade said yesterday: "He's certainly no more than 50-50, if he's that.

"He was fine yesterday, we plated him on Thursday and he breezed yesterday and was good last night, but come this morning we found a tiny little abscess in his off-fore foot.

"We've been working hard on it all day, but I really wanted to see him sound and a huge improvement when I came back from the races, but he's not and he's sore.

"We'll change it (poultice) a couple of more times and see.

"We hope he's such a good horse and we don't want to risk him if he's not 100 per cent. This is a Grade One and the race we wanted to run him in, but that's the way it goes."

Should Apache Stronghold be ruled out, the race would be reduced to just three runners, with Meade's Very Wood and Eoin Griffin's Azorian both owned by Gigginstown House Stud, in opposition to Briar Hill.