Hors La Loi III will take his place in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next Tuesday, it was decided today.
Francois Doumen's charge, winner of the Axminster 100 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last time, had the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle as an alternative target.
But, after the gelding had galloped under Dean Gallagher at Chantilly this morning, the decision was made to go for the shorter option.
Owner Paul Green said: "The decision was made at 10am this morning and we run in the Champion Hurdle." ''The horse showed quite a lot of pace at Wincanton but you can read that race in two ways,' Green added.
'If you want to be critical you could say that Krabloonik was only 10 lengths behind us.
'But if you want to be positive you could say he was only a length behind us with three furlongs to go and Pipe's horse (Auetaler) has been running quite well this year.
'In a perfect world we'd be a lot happier if the horse had been able to have another three weeks work.
'I'm not saying he is coming here short but with all his problems he didn't start work again until the early part of this year.
'Dean rode him this morning, he was thrilled with him and the horse went very, very well but if there is any weakness there at all it's better to find out over two miles than three.'
Green recognises that Istabraq will be hard to beat on Tuesday but hopes for a bold showing from the five-year-old, who is 12-1 third favourite (from 14-1) with William Hill behind the 1-3 market leader.
He added: 'We couldn't really be more pleased with where we are and we'll just have to wait and see now.
'I think the Champion Hurdle will suit him. There will be fast pace, which he loves, and we know he stays the distance well.
'We've all got Istabraq to beat but I'd have thought we've got a good chance of getting pretty close to the frame.'
Gallagher is looking forward to riding Hors La Loi III and added: 'I think he's got a sporting chance. You shouldn't be scared away by one horse and that horse is obviously Istabraq.
'Mr Green is a real sportsman and he's up for a crack at the Champion. We go there with all guns blazing but no matter what he does - win, lose or draw - he's got a future. He's only five years old and the Stayers' Hurdle can come next year.
'He's really sharpened up nicely for his Wincanton run. He gave me a really good feel and I'm now very much looking forward to Cheltenham.'
Hors La Loi III is 12-1 third favourite (from 14-1) with William Hill behind the 1-3 market leader Istabraq but remains a 14-1 chance with Coral.
