Go Native will be looking to go one better than 2009 Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi when he tackles the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Punjabi could not win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle earlier in the season which meant that despite winning the Christmas Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle, he missed out on a £1million bonus provided by betting exchange firm WBX.com for any horse that could win all three races.

Davy Condon was filling the boots of Paul Carberry on Noel Meade's Go Native at Newcastle and he remains in the saddle for the Boxing Day showpiece.

"It's brilliant of Noel and the owners to put me up on him again, I'm very grateful," said Condon.

"I was down at the yard on Tuesday and he worked great.

"Kempton should suit him well, it's a flat track and he's got loads of gears, he's a real good-actioned horse and he just wants goodish ground, not firm, but good to soft is fine.

"He doesn't necessarily need a decent gallop - like he showed the last day he can quicken up off a slow pace so I'd say whatever pace the race is run at he'll have a good chance because he was very impressive the last day.

"He's definitely the best hurdler I've ridden, I couldn't believe how well I was going turning into the straight at Newcastle. Going to the third-last I knew we had the race in the bag.

"With Harchibald (dual Christmas Hurdle winner) being retired he'll probably step into his shoes because he's got loads of gears and he jumps real quick as well and he might never have to go chasing because he's such a good hurdler."