Kempes will finally get the chance to warm up for a crack at the John Durkan Memorial Chase with a run over the smaller obstacles at Cork today.

The dual Grade One winner will have a sharpener in the two-mile Follow Us On Facebook Hurdle after the meeting was rescheduled from Sunday.

The John Durkan back over fences at Punchestown on December 11 will then be the next target for the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old, who was pulled up in his final two starts last term.

"It's his first run back and he's in good form. The race will bring him on and we're hoping he runs a nice race. The John Durkan is the plan after this" said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

Kempes has five rivals including Tony Martin's Psycho and the Dermot Weld-trained New Phase