Owner Andy Stewart is looking forward to Celestial Halo making his debut over fences in Exeter's Best Mate Beginners' Chase on Tuesday.
Classy enough to finish second to Punjabi in the 2009 Champion Hurdle, the six-year-old was fourth to Binocular 12 months later. He was last seen falling at the second-last flight in the Aintree Hurdle, an incident which sidelined Ruby Walsh for months, but Paul Nicholls' stable jockey has been down at Ditcheat popping him over some fences in preparation.
"We're really looking forward to it and it's a race we won last year with Tataniano. There is always the fear that they might not take to fences but he has not given us any indication at home that he won't, he's just got to do it on a racecourse proper now," said Stewart.
"Very sadly I can't actually be there but he has schooled very well at home, Ruby has been down to sit on him a couple of times.
"Obviously we are going to find out whether two miles is his trip, he might want two-and-a-half but definitely not three. We know that two miles is too sharp for him over hurdles and he is too high up in the handicap to go that route.
"If I didn't have Big Buck's he'd be going for the World Hurdle, but we know he can't beat Big Buck's so on that basis we may as well give it a go.
"Last year when we were still over hurdles we schooled him over fences and he took to it."
Celestial Halo faces four rivals, Diamond Brook, Jocheski, The Brimmer and Rougham.
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