Valira set for Red return

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’s six-year-old took high rank among last season’s novice hurdlers, winning twice at Grade Two level in a profitable campaign.

Having fallen when last seen in top-flight company at Punchestown in April, O’Brien is likely to take the wraps off De Valira at Gowran Park in the hope he might prove good enough to line up in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

“De Valira is only just back cantering now so he won’t be ready until about Red Mills time,” said the County Kildare-based handler.

“He’ll have an entry in the Champion Hurdle and if he jumps up well and wins the Red Mills then we will go there with him but if he doesn’t, we won’t.

“He got some sort of a knock when he was out at grass at home and had a little vessel that was bleeding on his leg.

“They eventually had to operate on it and tie it off so it’s just taken a little while to get him ready but he’s fine again now.”