Paul Webber is to send Ulundi, the star of his Cropredy yard near Banbury, to race in Dubai.

The seven-year-old, a useful middle-distance performer on the Flat, will leave for the the Middle East at the end of the month, but could return for a crack at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle if things don't work out.

"He leaves for Dubai on January 31 and he runs hopefully out there on February 24," Webber said. "There is a mile and a half race there, the City Of Gold Stakes.

"The plan is that if he runs well in Dubai, he'll stay in Dubai. But we have the option to come home if the ground was fast at Cheltenham, and if poor Istabraq didn't make it, or the favourites dropped out, and we thought it was worth a shot.

"So, we do hold that alternative, but the plan is Dubai and we'll see how we go."

Ulundi won last season's Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle and ran well on his latest start over timber when third to Azertyuiop at Wincanton in November.

Webber reports the gelding in good shape ahead of his trip overseas.

"He's in wonderful form," he added.