Trainer Mick Winters is looking forward to taking on Allaho in the Ryanair Chase with his stable star Chatham Street Lad.
The ten-year-old won last season's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup before picking up an injury when third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.
Prep decision to be made
Chatham Street Lad is 50/1 for the Ryanair and could have a prep race before the festival in either the Red Mills Trial Hurdle or Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on February 19th, or potentially wait for the Boyne Hurdle at Navan a day later.
Winters said: "He seemed to land on the birch of the ditch at Haydock and cut skin halfway down from the knee to the joint, but it stopped above the joint and it was just a matter of stitching.
"Everything seemed very good afterwards and we've had no setback with him since.
"I'd imagine we could go to Gowran or Navan next, but we'll keep an eye on the entries. I'm very happy with him. He takes a lot of work, but I think we're more on top of things with him this time."
Related Cheltenham News
Cheltenham: The Festival: Day-by-day schedule
Cheltenham: The Gold Cup: All You Need To Know
Cheltenham: The Stayers' Hurdle: All You Need To Know
Chatham Street Lad, who finished fourth behind Chantry House in the Marsh Novices' Chase last year, also holds an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but his trainer is leaning heavily towards the Ryanair.
He added: "The Ryanair would be my preference if we were to run at Cheltenham. He loves a rolling track and if he reproduced something like his first run there (in the Caspian Caviar), it'd be great.
"Even in last year's Marsh he was just three lengths off Asterion Forlonge when fourth to Chantry House."
