Paul Nicholls hopes to learn more about Hold Fast's Cheltenham Festival credentials when he runs in the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury this weekend.
The former Howard Johnson inmate was beaten on his first start for the champion trainer at Newbury early on this season, but he took a big leap forward when running away with a competitive handicap at Sandown a month ago.
The eight-year-old has been given a speculative entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next month and connections are likely to find out whether he is really up to that level after he lines up on Saturday.
"It looks like being a hot race but he hosed up at Sandown and we want to run him on Saturday to see where we are," said Nicholls.
"He's entered for the Champion Chase and for the Grand Annual and I suspect we'll end up going the handicap route. We'll see what happens."
The entries for the two-mile Grade Two prize, better known as the Game Spirit Chase, will be released on Tuesday after it was reopened in an attempt to attract more runners.
Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card have both been mentioned as likely participants.
