Alan King has unveiled a four-strong raiding party primed for Haydock's valuable meeting next Saturday.
Heading the team will be hard-to-train Relkeel, reported still to be in fine heart after last month's comeback win in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham and on course to bid for a follow-up success in the Intercity Champion Hurdle Trial.
He could be joined on a card carrying over #125,000 in prize money by stable-companions Toto Toscato, Spendid and Anzum.
Relkeel won the Champion Hurdle Trial back in 1995.
Though his career has been blighted by leg problems since, he beat Far Cry by a neck in the Bula and remains in good shape.
"Relkeel is fine," King said. "Touch wood, he has been in good form since the Bula.
The 11-year-old is quoted at 20-1 for the Champion Hurdle itself by William Hill but King stressed: "We're taking one race at a time with him and we'll get Saturday out of the way before thinking about Cheltenham."
Cheltenham Gold Cup outsider Spendid, runner-up in the Tote Silver Cup at Ascot last month, is set to bid for the feature #42,500 Bet Direct Peter Marsh Chase.
"Spendid is almost certain to run," King said. "There is the Irish Hennessy at the beginning of February but he is more likely to go to Haydock."
Toto Toscato is set to bid for the Birchwood Novices' Chase, rather than Friday's PML Lightning Novices' Chase at Ascot, scene of his Grade Two victory just before Christmas.
"The plan has always been to go to Haydock," his trainer said. "We put him in at Ascot to have a look but it is quite a hot race.
Anzum is reported "in good form" for his tilt at the Tote Premier Long Distance Hurdle.
