Celestial Wave's chances of featuring in the World Hurdle have been bolstered by the prospect of some ease in the ground during the Cheltenham Festival.
As low as 8-1 for the stayers' championship on March 15, trainer Adrian Maguire's seven-time winner over hurdles was last seen defeating Studmaster by five lengths in the Grade Three Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran.
Suitably reinvigorated by a short break, the seven-year-old mare seems more likely than ever to head to Prestbury Park next month — as long as the ground is not fast.
"She had a break after Gowran and is now back doing a few canters and I couldn't be more happy with her," Maguire told the Racing Post. "If the going was good to soft and all was well with the mare I see no reason why she wouldn't travel and take her chance.
"It would have to be on the soft side of good for her to go."