Trainer Tom Mullins is hopeful dual Cheltenham Festival winner Alderwood is coming back to peak form just in time for his return to Prestbury Park.

Winner of the County Hurdle in 2012 and the Grand Annual 12 months later, the JP McManus-owned 11-year-old began the season with some decent efforts in defeat, picking up minor honours behind Don Cossack and Champagne Fever

Alderwood endured a spell in the doldrums during December and January, but there were signs of a revival when he finished fourth in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last month.

Mullins is now weighing up his Festival options.

The County Kilkenny handler said: " Alderwood will either go for the Coral Cup or the two-mile-five chase (Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase) on the Thursday.

"We are still trying to make up our minds as to which one to go for.

"The rest of the yard is in good form and hopefully he is coming on as well."