De Valira remains on target for a crack at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle after pleasing trainer Michael O’Brien with his comeback effort at the weekend.

De Valira is to be given an opportunity to book his ticket for Cheltenham in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on February 16.

Michael O’Brien thinks it will take “a good horse” to beat his Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fancy De Valira at the Cheltenham Festival in March.