Paul Nicholls will spend his Christmas Day putting the final touches to Kauto Star's preparations for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.
The champion trainer and his staff then face an anxious countdown to St Stephens's Day, when the undisputed staying champion, with Ireland's champion jockey Ruby Walsh on board, faces six rivals.
The odds-on favourite easily beat Exotic Dancer and Racing Demon in the King George 12 months ago and Nicholls is more than happy with his six-time Grade One winner following his repeat success in the Betfair Chase.
"Kauto is in fine form and it is all systems go," Nicholls said. "There have been no problems since Haydock - he is looking great and I could not be happier with him.
"He is a fresher horse this year, as last year we ran in the Tingle Creek before the King George.
"We missed that race this time to give him more time."
Nicholls does, however, concede the King George is the one race in which Kauto Star could be vulnerable.
"I have no doubt he is better going left-handed and if there is any track this season that won't suit him it is Kempton," he explained. "He can do it going right-handed though and he has won two Tingle Creeks and a King George going that way.
"He did lug a little left-handed last year but it did not stop him winning.
"He has always jumped well at home and his jumping has been exceptional this year.
"It is frustrating when he makes a mistake, but looking back at the video at Kempton - and even at Newbury - I would put it down to the fact he lugged left-handed but he has never looked like falling.
"He has got the ability to jump well and at Cheltenham and Haydock he was awesome."
Although he headed into the Boxing Day showpiece undefeated in three starts last winter, Kauto Star has only raced twice this season and suffered an unexpected defeat first time out when going down to Monet's Garden.
"If he was ever going to get beat it was first time out in a handicap, against a horse who always runs well first time out," said Nicholls. "I was concerned he raced lazily but that is what we taught him to do last season. We wanted him to relax for the Gold Cup and he did.
"I didn't lose faith with him after Aintree but it was great to see him run like he did at Haydock.
"Before Aintree he had been working with Twist Magic, who has improved out of all recognition, but since then we have been working him with Mr Pointment and he has looked a different horse."
While old foe Exotic Dancer has been weak to back in the build-up to the race, Nicholls still believes Jonjo O'Neill's flagbearer rates as the biggest threat.
"Exotic Dancer is the main danger as he keeps doing it, and got to half a length of us at Haydock.
"For whatever reason, there will probably be a day when he does beat us."