Defi could contest the Irish Champion Hurdle Defi Du Seuil is likely to return to action at the Dublin Festival at Leopardstown next month. Last season's Triumph Hurdle winner has not been sighted on a racecourse since November when he emphatically lost his unbeaten record for Philip Hobbs in the Coral Hurdle. The three-time Grade One winner was taken out of the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury at the latest entry stage and is instead poised to step back up to the highest level in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on February 3. Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus, said: "I think the plan is to head to Ireland with him, but we should know more later in the week."
