Malcolm Jefferson appreciates the magnitude of Dato Star's task against Istabraq in tomorrow's Smurfit Champion Hurdle but he has his charge in the pink of condition for the big test.
As the Malton trainer trudged though the deep mud in the car park at Carlisle on Thursday he was left wishing the ground would be similar at Cheltenham.
Unfortunately the rains have stayed away from Prestbury Park, but Jefferson reasoned: "If it had been very soft it would hinder some of the others and that would have been in his favour.
"But he will stay on if the ground is good you know, he was second last into the straight on the Flat in the November Handicap one year but he kept on to finish second."
Success for Dato Star would be a very popular one, and Jefferson went on: "I can't do anything about the weather and I can't so any more for him - he looks tremendous and is very well in himself so we will see."
The hopes of Istabraq's rivals for heavy ground which might increase their chances against the dual-Champion in fact evaporated before the weekend when the weather forecast revealed that there was not to be any appreciable rain in the Cheltenham area.
On all known form Istabraq deserves to be a long odds-on chance as he bids to join a very select band of horses to win three Champions in a row, and many feel the real race will be for the places and his stable companion Theatreworld certainly knows something about that.
He has taken the runner-up berth in the last three renewals and it would be no surprise to see him pick up place money again, while Make A Stand winner of the race three years ago returns to the fray.
Make A Stand has not been seen out since April 1997 when he finished third to Bimsey at Aintree on his only run after his moment of Cheltenham glory, but Martin Pipe is a past master at producing horses fit and ready after lengthy absences.
However it is interesting that Pipe's stable jockey, champion Tony McCoy, will be on board another Irish raider Stage Affair who is not without hope of running into a place.
The French challenger Hors La Roi III, winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago has been sparkling again recently and Dean Gallagher is by no means daunted by the presence of the mighty Istabraq.
Belfast solicitor Robert Sinclair is one Irishman who is hoping Istabraq gets beaten.
Sinclair, who is half-owner of Stage Affair, obviously hopes that the Dermot Weld-trained ex-Flat campaigner will give him his third victory as an owner at the Festival.
"I suppose you could say I have been very lucky here," said Sinclair.
"I have established a routine which is almost a superstition in that I stand at the same place close to the rails about 50 yards from the winning post. Then when the horses run past me if my horse is in contention I run with him to the post and hope to get there to greet him as the winner.
"I've been lucky with Rhythm Section who won the Cheltenham Bumper in 1993 for my brother-in-law Homer Scott then two years later Wither Or Which scored for me and trainer Willie Mullins in the same race.
"Stage Affair was originally intended to run in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle but I am delighted that Dermot Weld and co-owner Michael Smurfit are going for the Champion.
"It gives me a great thrill and I think that Stage Affair will be a lot closer to Istabraq than many people believe. The ground is coming his way and I am extremely hopeful to say the least."
