Champion Hurdle hero Espoir D'Allen back in training with Morgiana the plan

Champion Hurdle hero Espoir D'Allen is back in training and looks better than ever according to trainer Gavin Cromwell, who says the road back to Cheltenham is likely to begin in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in mid-November.

Espoir D'Allen became only the second five-year-old to claim the Champion Hurdle in 33 years when scoring by a record-breaking 15 lengths this year and is as short as 3-1 to retain his crown in 2020.

Cromwell said: "He came back into the yard at the end of last week and looks better than ever. He looks like he's grown up and got much stronger over the summer.

Espoir D'Allen clears the last en route to Champion Hurdle gloryCredit: Mark Cranham

"Everyone wanted a Snapchat with him in the yard. He's become a bit of a celebrity around here. You would't believe the buzz around the place when he returned. It gave the whole place a new lease of life."

Regarding his eagerly awaited comeback, Cromwell said: "I would imagine he'll start back in the Morgiana at Punchestown but we've not totally committed to anything just yet. My job will be to get him fit and ready for the end of October or start of November. That's the real start of the season and the Morgiana would fit in nicely.

"His season maps out itself really, you have the Morgiana, the Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas [the Ryanair Hurdle], back to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Hurdle and then on to Cheltenham. It is just unbelievable to have a horse like him who you can aim at all the top races. It's very exciting really."

Espoir D'Allen and Mark Walsh run out easy winners of the Champion Hurdle for trainer Gavin CromwellCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The Champion Hurdle was billed as a three-horse race between Apple's Jade, Buveur D'Air and Laurina but Espoir D'Allen ripped up every pre-race script under Mark Walsh.

Cromwell said: "There's no point in me saying I wasn't surprised because I was. We were probably a bit ambitious deciding to run him in the race as, on paper, it looked like a very good Champion Hurdle. We were eager to get some big-race experience into him. The rest, as they say, is history.

"From day one he has been very progressive. I never thought he would end up in a Champion Hurdle but he just kept on stepping up and he did nothing but improve with every run."

Cromwell in numbers

7 winners from 12 runners in Britain since July 1

22 jumps winners in Ireland this season, only 11 shy of his record campaign

Cromwell's share price continues to rise on the training stock exchange and he has already sent out 22 jumps winners in Ireland this season, just 11 fewer than the whole of the last campaign.

He is versatile too, plundering five Flat prizes in Britain this summer, and prize-money earned in the last five seasons has soared to €2.84 million.

"Things are going great and the moment and I couldn't be happier. We're definitely getting a higher quality of animal now and I like the direction we're going. We could always do with more, though!" the trainer said.

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