Pentland Hills, the highest-rated juvenile hurdler of last season, is set to return in the £140,000 G2 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, 14 December, day two of The International.
The two-mile, one-furlong contest is a trial for the £450,000 G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on day one of The Festival™ presented by Magners in March.
Formerly based with Newmarket handler Chris Wall, Pentland Hills is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles since joining Nicky Henderson.
Following a minor victory at Plumpton in February, the son of Motivator sprung a 20/1 surprise in the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival and followed up with a battling success in the G1 Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle at Aintree.
Henderson reported: "The Unibet International Hurdle is the plan with Pentland Hills.
"He was superb last season and we were delighted with his performance in the Triumph Hurdle.
"We took him to Newbury for a gallop last week and he pleased us with what he did.
"The International looks the right race to target, as Buveur D'Air is going for the Fighting Fifth and Fusil Raffles will go for the Christmas Hurdle.
The highlight over fences on day two of The International is the £130,000 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over two miles and five furlongs.
Entries for the prestigious G3 handicap chase close at noon today and will be revealed tomorrow, Wednesday, 27 November.
Frodon and Bryony Frost landed the spoils last season before returning to Cheltenham to win the G2 BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day and the G1 Ryanair Chase at The Festival.
