Nicky Henderson feels it is his job to "dethrone Kauto Star" with Long Run in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Long Run prevented Kauto Star from winning a fifth consecutive King George last season and when Paul Nicholls' superstar trailed in third in both that race and the Gold Cup, and was then pulled up for the first time in his career at Punchestown, many feared the worst.
However, the 11-year-old showed his incredible recuperation skills by beating Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and Henderson says it is up to him to restore order - although it might make him unpopular.
"Over the past year we could beat Kauto Star easily, as simple as that," Henderson told the Guardian.
"But Kauto wasn't anywhere near his prime in those two races. Now that Paul Nicholls has got him back to his best, and Kauto beat Long Run at Haydock last month, we're in for one hell of a race.
"Even last year everyone else wanted Kauto to win. We really wrecked the party. That's why the Haydock reception was phenomenal. People always want the old champion to come back and defeat the young pretender.
"Of course the public might not want me to do it but it's my job to dethrone Kauto Star."
Long Run was eight lengths adrift on Merseyside but at one stage he looked like being beaten much further.
Henderson added: "It was a horror story up until the back straight. He's done well to finish where he did. But Paul was aiming for that race while we're building more slowly.
"That's why Boxing Day is so crucial to Paul and me. There is a hell of a lot riding on it because, unless there are any mishaps, whoever comes out of the King George in front is going to Cheltenham with real momentum."
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