Pentland Hills, the highest-rated juvenile hurdler last season, is set to return in the Grade Two Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
The two-mile, one-furlong contest is a trial for the £450,000 Grade One Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on day one of the Festival in March.
Formerly based with Newmarket handler Chris Wall, Pentland Hills is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles since joining Nicky Henderson.
Following a minor victory at Plumpton in February, the son of Motivator sprung a 20/1 surprise in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle and followed up with a battling success in the Grade One Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle at Aintree.
Henderson reported: "The Unibet International Hurdle is the plan with Pentland Hills. He was superb last season and we were delighted with his performance in the Triumph Hurdle.
"We took him to Newbury for a gallop last week and he pleased us with what he did.
"The International looks the right race to target, as Buveur D'Air is going for the Fighting Fifth and Fusil Raffles will go for the Christmas Hurdle."
The highlight over fences on day two of The International is the £130,000 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over two miles and five furlongs.
Entries for the prestigious Grade Three handicap chase close at noon today and will be revealed tomorrow, Wednesday, 27 November.
Frodon and Bryony Frost landed the spoils last season before returning to Cheltenham to win the Grade Two BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day and the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Festival.
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