Champ is the standout name of seven entries for the Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The three-mile test is a key long-distance prep event for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival and Champ is currently the 7/2 second-favourite for the big race in March with Planet Sport Bet.
Nicky Henderson's 10-year-old was returning from a lay-off at Ascot having disappointed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but while the stayers' route looks likely he is still entered in the Gold Cup and connections stress no decision has been made yet.
Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: "He's ready to go, Nicky's happy with him. Hopefully he'll go there in good form and we hope for the best.
"It's an ideal prep race and hopefully all goes well."
As for the big decision between the Stayers' Hurdle or Gold Cup, Berry added: "Nothing is set in stone.
"We'll see how he goes on Saturday and Nicky will make the call after that."
Paisley Park, the sturdy 2019 Stayers' Hurdle winner, came in third at Ascot for Emma Lavelle and faces-off again, along with Rebecca Curtis' Lisnagar Oscar.
The nine-year-old was a shock 50-1 winner at the Festival in 2020 but hasn't lived up to that form after, being pulled up in the Long Walk on his most recent run.
Curtis said: "He's fine, obviously it wasn't a great day at Ascot, but he does seem to come to form from Christmas onwards and he loves Cheltenham.
"We're going to give him a run in the Cleeve Hurdle and see how he goes there.
"If he runs well and seems back to himself then we'll think ahead to March, but we'll use the Cleeve Hurdle for a bit a guidance as to what we do with him next."
Relkeel Hurdle runner-up McFabulous, Dandy Mag and Evan Williams' pair of Dans Le Vent and Coole Cody complete the list of possibles for the Cleeve.
