Kim in Newbury mix

Leading Champion Hurdle contender Khyber Kim remains firmly on course for a tilt at the totesport Trophy at Newbury next month.

The eight-year-old showed plenty of promise in his early days but then appeared to lose his way having gone almost two years without success.

He bounced back to form with a brilliant victory in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance and confirmed that was no flash in the pan with a similarly scintillating display in the Boylesports.com International.

“At the moment he’s in good form and all being well he heads to Newbury,” said trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

“We’ve obviously been delighted with him so far this season and you would have to say he has a very good chance in the Champion Hurdle.

“He has already won twice at Cheltenham this season and he certainly shouldn’t be underestimated.”

An emphatic defeat of last season’s Champion Hurdle runner-up Celestial Halo on his most recent appearance has earned Khyber Kim a career-high rating of 165, meaning he is likely to be asked to carry top-weight in the fiercely competitive handicap on February 13.

Twiston-Davies may consider using a conditional jockey to offset some of his hefty burden, although any decision on that front is some way off.

“We’ll have a think about it but there is no rush and we’ll wait to see how the race is shaping up before we decide anything,” the trainer added.