Un De Sceaux will revert to hurdles for Saturday's Prix la Barka at Auteuil as he looks to get back on the winning trail.

Willie Mullins' charge was sent off favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham but found Sprinter Sacre too good, with that horse confirming the form when beating Un De Sceaux at Sandown last month.

Un De Sceaux had previously won each of his 14 completed starts and part-owner Colm O'Connell is hoping his pride and joy can return to form over the smaller obstacles, having won seven times in that sphere in the past.

"He'll have his ground, which he didn't get at Cheltenham and Sandown, but we don't know if he'll stay an extended two-miles-five," said O'Connell. "If he does, he'll have some fierce options next season.

"I think he'll stay. He won over an extended two-three there a couple of years ago and he definitely settles better now.

"These mini fences suit him perfectly, people had mentioned to us we should go back hurdling after his mistakes the other day."

Nicky Henderson's Simonsig is also in contention for the Grade 2 contest, which is viewed as a trial for the French Champion Hurdle.

O'Connell added: "It looks a very hot race, and in Simonsig we've got Nicky Henderson to beat once again after Sprinter Sacre, but we're happy to be going.

"He's bred to stay and if he gets bowling along in front, in the soft ground, he should be hard to peg back."

David Pipe could run both Ballynagour, last year's winner, and Gevrey Chambertin, with Nick Williams having Aubusson in the mix.

Paul Nicholls, winner in 2013 with Celestial Halo, has Ptit Zig in the race, while Dan Skelton could send Al Ferof and Mullins has a second string to his bow in Thousand Stars.

The home team is headed by Guy Cherel's Blue Dragon, a five-year-old who has won 10 of his 12 starts to date.