There’s a discussion to be had about number of completed starts prior to competing in a Grade 1 – if a horse can refuse a couple of times on the flat and be forced to undergo stalls testing..
I wonder if they’re schooling him to clear his hurdles like a chaser because, if fit and succeeds with that, then he’d still probably win if losing half a dozen lengths in total on his previous Champion Hurdle win.
Personally, I wouldn’t risk it and I’d be mapping out a flat campaign.