HENRY DE BROMHEAD has leaped to the defence of his stable star Sizing Europe after another puzzling display at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Once again the seven-year-old travelled ominously well, just as he had in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham before finding very little off the bridle and finishing fifth behind Sublimity in the December Festival Hurdle last Monday.

His participation had been in some doubt because of a bruised foot but his devastating performance in the AIG Champion Hurdle last January is becoming a distant memory.

"He seems okay. He was sore the morning before the race but I'm not going to make excuses for him anymore, I'm going to let him do the talking," said De Bromhead yesterday.

"I know he loves a fast pace and when you have eight horses bunched up at the second-last it was set up for the speed horses so he needs a faster gallop.

"When he won the AIG, Conor O'Dwyer said he had never been as fast on Hardy Eustace and our lad was lobbing along, he doesn't quicken he's just a relentless galloper.

"Everyone has their own opinion about the horse and I have mine and hopefully it will come right with him in time. I love the horse, I'm his biggest fan but sometimes you can have a subjective opinion of something and be proved wrong."

In The Dark, who finished half-a-length second in that Leopardstown race won by Sublimity, could go for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle without another run if the ground at Leopardstown is unsuitable.

Trainer Sabrina Harty has pencilled in the Toshiba Champion Hurdle on January 25th for the five-year-old. "He's come out of the race fine and he's been out in the field bucking and kicking," said Harty.

"We were delighted with the run. It would have suited him had they gone a proper gallop from the start as he stays really well and he has a bit of toe as well. All things considered we were over the moon.

"Hopefully he'll go for the Irish Champion Hurdle, but it depends on the going. We don't want to run him on heavy ground as he can't handle it. If it came up half-decent I suppose we'd probably go there.

"If he didn't, we'd give him racecourse gallop or something like that to try to get him to Cheltenham in one piece. That's the target. The longer trip and a stronger gallop should suit him. He handles the track well over there and he's a good traveller."

Won In The Dark is generally a 25 to 1 shot for the Champion Hurdle.

Katchit, the reigning Champion Hurdler, is to be given a month's break away from Alan King's Barbury Castle base in an effort to reinvigorate him before his title defence at Cheltenham in March.

King decided on the move after Katchit finished fourth to Binocular in last month's Boylesports International Hurdle, and the gelding will start his short winter holiday soon.

The trainer explained: "Katchit will leave the yard shortly to be given a month's break at an away destination to freshen him up. I blame myself for running him at Wincanton. I wanted to give him some match practice but in hindsight it wasn't the greatest move.

"However, I do think he's still in the mix for the Champion. He's just not firing at the moment, but that can change."

King is considering dropping King George VI Chase third Voy Por Ustedes to two miles for his next outing, with Newbury's Game Spirit Chase a possible port of call.

Tatenen's conqueror Follow The Plan is likely to have his next race in the Baileys Irish Arkle at Leopardstown on January 25th - as long as the ground is suitable.