David Pipe believes Osana's slick hurdling will make him a tough nut to crack after he posted a sensational victory in Saturday's Boylesports.com International Hurdle.
The five-year-old's eight-length triumph over Katchit at Cheltenham saw his odds slashed for the Champion Hurdle in March, with 8 to 1 the best price now available.
Pipe confirmed the Pond House team have that blue riband prize in their sights, and added Osana's running style reminds him of a former stable favourite.
"He's second or third favourite for the Champion now so all roads will be leading to Cheltenham in March," he said.
"He's only five, he's lightly-raced and he's still improving.
"The thing about him is that he's a very fluent jumper. He reminds me of Make A Stand, the way that he gets over hurdles. He even got in close to the last, but he was very clever and quick away."
Pipe admits Osana was tuned up for a bold show in the Grade Two event, but is now full of hope his emerging star can follow in Make A Stand's hoofprints in the big one in March.
"It was a mini-Champion Hurdle and it was our Champion Hurdle," Pipe said.
"We were primed for the day, and his last run at Cheltenham, finishing second under a big weight, put him spot-on for yesterday.
"Some of the others probably weren't fully wound up, but he led from the start and when Katchit came at him at the last he pulled away again."
Osana's prep run came in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle the previous month, in which he found only the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe too strong.
That one has an engagement at Leopardstown, and his handler said: "He seems in great form at the moment so hopefully he'll make it to the Festival Hurdle (December 29th).
"I'm really pleased with him and it was good to see Osana run so well at Cheltenham yesterday. There was definitely a smile on my face after I saw that.
"He did give us 6lb in the Greatwood, but it's still very encouraging and he was impressive there."
While de Bromhead feels this year's Champion is beginning to look up-for-grabs, he believes last season's winner, Sublimity, ran a good race in fourth at the weekend.
"The Champion is starting to look open and nothing really stands out at the moment," he added. "I thought Sublimity ran very well though. He looked like he'd come on for the run and I'm sure John Carr has just one race on his mind."
Carr reported his charge to be in good nick after Saturday's eclipse and has not lost any faith in his stable star.
"He's come home fine this morning," said Carr. "I was very pleased with him really. I thought he might have got close before the last but he just blew up before it.
"We have something to work on now anyway, and the AIG Champion (January 27th) will be next."
BETTING: (Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, Paddy Power): 5-1 Sublimity, 6-1 Harchibald, 7-1 Katchit, 8-1 Sizing Europe, Osana, 16-1 Afsoun, Black Jack Ketchum, 20-1 bar.
