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Owner Nick Peacock remains hopeful Arctic Fire will return to competitive action before the end of the season.

Owner Nick Peacock remains hopeful Arctic Fire will return to competitive action before the end of the season.

Having been placed behind Hurricane Fly on two occasions, the eight-year-old turned the tables in the 2015 Champion Hurdle, only to find another Willie Mullins inmate, Faugheen, too strong up the Cheltenham hill.

Arctic Fire deservedly broke his duck at Grade One level in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse later that year, but was once again no match for Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown 12 months ago and has since been on the sidelines.

Peacock said: " The news is favourable as he's back in work.

"Obviously if there's a recurrence of the injury, that might be it, but he's been back in work for six weeks and everything is going well at this stage.

"I don't know whether he'll make Cheltenham or not. After being off a year there's a lot to do to get him straight.

"It's a case of so far, so good."