The proud owner of leading Cheltenham Festival hope Long Run, Robert Waley-Cohen, has confirmed that the RSA Chase will be the intended target for his superstar after his impressive display at Warwick on Saturday.
After making a scintillating debut on British soil in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the French recruit dropped from three miles back to two in Saturday's Kingmaker Novices' Chase with consummate ease and landed the Grade 2 in some style.
"I was extremely happy with him and he is just a class horse," said Waley-Cohen.
"This is no disrespect to the other horses, but he was just a cut above on the day and we couldn't have asked any more of him.
"He made one or two slight jumping errors but they were extremely minor.
"He's come out of the race absolutely fine and we are now looking forward to Cheltenham.
"We all slept on it on Saturday night and we've decided we're going to go for the RSA Chase.
"Things might change if the ground becomes very testing but if the ground is like Simon Claisse (clerk of the course) brilliantly produces it - the usual good to soft ground or just on the softer side - he'll go for the RSA."
Punters can get a free £50 on this year’s RSA Chase with leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.