Emma Lavelle's De Rasher Counter is setting out on the road to the Grand National in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
The 10-year-old has been off for 489 days with a tendon injury but is ready for a return to action at the scene of his Ladbrokes Trophy win in November 2019.
This Denman Chase is a significant test for De Rasher Counter's ability to contest the Randox Grand National at Aintree in April.
"He's in really good order. It's exciting to have him back after injury. He's in really good shape. We're trying to gear up for a proper crack at the National," said Lavelle.
"It's our first run back and he seems very much ready to go and run."
The Marlborough trainer revealed she has had some handy help in getting De Rasher Counter ready for action.
"We brought him back in and I wanted to do a lot of trotting with him so I sent him to Adam Wedge's partner Lauren and she and Adam had him for six weeks trotting on the roads in Wales. They did a great job for us and just hardened his legs off and got him going," she said.
"He came back to us and he started cantering and touch wood it's been plain sailing since then. They did a super job for us."
Lavelle's other Grand National possible, Eclair Surf, could run next in the Vertem Eider Chase at Newcastle on February 26.
The eight-year-old showed he was the right class for all the main staying handicaps when winning the Classic Chase at Warwick last month.
"He's very good. We've made an entry for the Eider. Timing-wise it's perfect and we'll see how we go," she said.
"He's in the National as well. We'll just keep all our options open as far as he is concerned at this stage."
