Nicky Henderson remains unconcerned about Long Run's defeat at Haydock as he prepares to step up his heavyweight's preparations for the William Hill King George VI Chase next week.
Long Run will return to Kempton on Boxing Day to defend his crown and is 13-8 favourite with the sponsors despite an eight-length defeat by Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase.
Henderson points to the form of last season, when the six-year-old could only manage third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham before demolishing Kauto Star at Sunbury. He then went on to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory.
"He's very good and seems very happy in himself," said Henderson, who showed off a handful of his Kempton contenders on a grey and windy press morning at his Lambourn stable.
"He did two canters this morning and he won't do any more serious work until next week. As long as the King George is on the 26th (rather than postponed like last year), then hopefully we'll get the timings right."
Looking back to the Betfair Chase, the trainer said: "He didn't blow for unnecessarily long afterwards and you look back at his run in the Paddy Power and say 'was that any better?'. This was probably better.
"Kauto beat us fair and square on the day and he could be better this year. He's certainly going to be hard to beat and Paul Nicholls had him ready for the day.
"We were ready enough and, as he has won a King George and a Gold Cup, you don't want him to get beaten, but he's a real star and he still has the rest of the season to show that."
A less likely King George starter is Riverside Theatre, who was a runner-up by 12 lengths last year and only managed one more run, when winning the Ascot Chase, before suffering a setback.
"I put him in the race and he's good, but it's nearly December and he's still cantering, so I think you'd say he was unlikely," said Henderson. "His main objectives are Ascot again, and the Ryanair Chase."
Binocular will be back for another crack at the William Hill Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day as trainer Nicky Henderson juggles the campaigns of four potential Champion Hurdle horses.
Henderson is not giving up on the 2010 Cheltenham hero, even though he faltered last season after an impressive success in the Kempton Grade One and has now suffered three consecutive defeats in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, including when beaten by Overturn at Newcastle last week.
"He's in exactly the same position as last year. He was a bit flat at Newcastle, but he has come back really well and Overturn is a hard horse to pass," said Henderson.
"He's OK, and he was very good at Kempton last year. Overturn is very good, but he's at the top of his game and I can't see that there is a lot more to come from him. There's a long way to go."
Oscar Whisky, who fell at the last when alongside Overturn in the Ascot Hurdle, is a possibility for the Relkeel at Cheltenham, while another to be bound for Prestbury Park is Grandouet.
Last season's Triumph Hurdle third and Punchestown Festival winner bounced back from a fall on his reappearance at Wincanton by running away with a minor event at Haydock.
The trainer went on: "He's going to run in the International at Cheltenham. He was impressive at Haydock and impressive at Punchestown and I'd just like to give him another look at Cheltenham to make sure it's the right place to go."
Spirit Son, second to Al Ferof in the Supreme and an impressive winner at Aintree, is not out of the equation either.
Henderson explained that Michael Buckley's gelding would not be running in the Christmas Hurdle, but said: "I think I'd concentrate on the Champion Hurdle. He's that good."
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