Nicky Henderson has been singing the praises of Sprinter Sacre as the superstar returned from a summer break last week.
The six-year-old finished last season’s sensational season unbeaten over fences after destroying his rivals in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham before cruising to a facile success on his final start at Aintree.
The bookmakers already make the exciting prospect as short as even-money for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Henderson explained: "He came back in last week and he looks magnificent.
"He is gigantic, in the nicest way. He's not fat, he looks unbelievable. He's scary, he's just massive.
"He's thickened out a lot and he's undoubtedly stronger.
"The obvious races for him early on are going to be the Tingle Creek and the Victor Chandler.
"He is a two-mile horse. I don't think there's any doubt about that.
"It does promise to be a very exciting season from everybody's point of view and something like Sprinter Sacre does make you gasp a little bit.
"Let's hope he lives up to the billing he's getting."
Racing fans will no doubt be delighted to hear the good news about Sprinter Sacre’s wellbeing as the 2012/13 National Hunt Season continues to creep closer.