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The exciting Gala Marceau could take in the Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster en route to a tilt at the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Owned by Kenny Alexander, best known for his association with champion racemare Honeysuckle, Gala Marceau was an exciting juvenile hurdler for Willie Mullins last season, winning the Grade 1 Prix Alain Du Breil at Auteuil in May. The French-bred mare finished second behind Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before placing third in the Punchestown equivalent.

"We will possibly see her out towards the end of the month and there is a nice race at Doncaster that is being discussed," said Peter Molony, Alexander's racing manager. "It's a nice mares' race, a Grade Two I think it is.

"The main aim would be the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham – that's what we are thinking.

"The extra half a mile she will get at Cheltenham seemed to really play to her strengths at Auteuil and she was very impressive that day. We were all blown away to be honest.

"I'm not sure she will ever fill those [Honeysuckle's] boots, but she has done us proud so far and won us two Grade Ones.

"She's not the biggest in the world, but she is as tough as nails and she has definitely grown with us over the summer and strengthened a bit by the time she went back to Willie's. So we are very hopeful she can progress again."