Last year's Champion Hurdle runner up gave weight away all-round and could be called the winner from a long way out.

Head of PR Charlie McCann:" Celestial Halo got within a quarter of a length of Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle this year and this was visually a most impressive seasonal reappearance although there are sure to be bigger battles to come.

"Paul Nicholls has said that the Champion Hurdle rather than the Grand National is the one race he wants on his CV and Celestial Halo will once again be a big player in the Big One in March."