Black Jack Ketchum will have his final prep run for the Cheltenham Festival in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Prestbury Park on January 27th.

Jonjo O'Neill confirmed his unbeaten eight-year-old, who has only had one start this season, will have one more race before the biggest test of his career in the World Hurdle.

"Hopefully he will go to Cheltenham at the end of the month for the Cleeve Hurdle, that's the plan," said the Jackdaws Castle handler. "Then he will go straight to the Festival, all being well. I am very pleased with him but the unfortunate thing is that he has only had one run this season. That is due to the ground but he is in great form and we are looking forward to the rest of the season with him.

"It is extremely exciting to have a horse like him but you are also very nervous in hoping he stays safe and sound. He has every chance really (in the World Hurdle) but it is a top-class race and no walkover.

"You are taking on the best in the country but he is as good as any of them, we think, and he goes there with a great chance. If we are 100 per cent right on the day we'd be very confident.

"You don't mind taking the chance once (on soft ground) but we are not going to tear the guts out of him by running on it all year," O'Neill said.

Black Jack Ketchum is a best price of 10 to 11 for the World Hurdle at the Festival.