ESPOIR D’Allen is set for a racecourse gallop this week as he prepares to take his chance in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

A smart juvenile last season, the Gavin Cromwell-trained five-year-old has only lost one of his nine races, when going wrong in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at last season’s Dublin Racing Festival.

He has looked an improved performer during this campaign, winning at Naas and Limerick before successfully giving 7lbs to older rivals in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.

Owner JP McManus is also responsible for dual champion Buveur D’Air, but Cromwell said on Sunday: “He’s in good shape and he’s on course for Cheltenham. I’m pretty sure he’s going there (for the Champion Hurdle).

“He’ll go away somewhere this week. The ground the way it is, I’m not sure where we will go, but he’ll have a racecourse gallop somewhere.”