Lounaos is ready to take on the best in the AIG (Europe) Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Istabraq has been a constant drifter in the ante-post exchanges on the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in recent weeks but that may be about to change.

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that Istabraq’s next outing will be in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 12.