Donald McCain could not be happier with his star turn Peddlers Cross as he prepares to put his unbeaten record on the line in the stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
The five-year-old enjoyed a fantastic novice campaign, culminating in big-race wins at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in the spring.
He is set to test his Champion Hurdle credentials against reigning champion Binocular at Newcastle this weekend and his trainer admits he is beginning to feel the nerves.
"He's in good form and ready to go. We're looking forward to Saturday, but I think exciting is the wrong word for it," said the trainer.
"It's a massive step up for us, but the horse is in good nick. It's a track we know fairly well and we've got to take on horses like Binocular at some point, so we might as well find out where we stand.
"He worked well at Bangor a couple of weeks ago and we do think he has plenty of pace.
"We wouldn't want a slowly-run race, as it was last year, but there's not an awful lot we can do about that. All we can do is get the horse to the races fit and well and see what happens.
"This has been the target for a while and it seems an obvious place to start. We'll see what happens this weekend and we can make a plan from there."
McCain has left the door open for his charge to travel to Ireland to contest Sunday's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse should Newcastle's meeting be beaten by the predicted cold snap and heavy rain.
But he continued: "The problem is any decisions on Newcastle would end up being made a little bit too close, but we've left him in the Hatton's Grace just in case."
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