Willie Mullins appears to have found the ideal opportunity for Bapaume to return to winning ways in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

A smart juvenile last term, he was third to Defi Du Seuil in the Triumph Hurdle and won a Grade One at Punchestown before going down narrowly in France.

He made a pleasing return to action behind Apple's Jade and Supasundae at Christmas, but failed to reproduce that when last of eight in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

"He was a little bit disappointing last time out after a fantastic comeback run behind Apple's Jade and Supasundae," said assistant trainer Patrick Mullins.

"We're going back up in trip with him and he's well in at the weights, so we're hoping he can bounce back."

Bapaume meets the Gordon Elliott pair of Diamond Cauchois and Lieutenant Colonel as well as Patrick Griffin's veteran Maggio