Vaniteux, who is already prominent in the ante-post markets for the Arkle Trophy, puts his reputation on the line in today's williamhill.com Novices' Chase at Kempton.
Registered as the Wayward Lad, the race has a stellar roll of honour with top-class horses such as Riverside Theatre, Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig all having tasted glory in recent years.
Those three all hailed from the Seven Barrows stable of Nicky Henderson, who also trains Vaniteux.
He could not have been more impressive in slamming a useful type in Qewy by 19 lengths on his chasing debut at this track last month, but this represents a huge step up in class with the extremely impressive Henry VIII Novices' Chase winner Ar Mad likely to blaze a trail.
However, Henderson believes the expected strong pace, with Arzal another who likes to force it, will suit his contender.
"Vaniteux was very impressive at Kempton the first time, although he got a pretty soft time of it," said Henderson told his www.StanJames.com blog.
"His jumping was excellent but he was able to do it in his own time. (The Wayward Lad) is going to be a totally different ball game as you've got a ferocious pace on here.
"There'll be more than two horses to beat but Gary Moore's (Ar Mad) and Harry Whittington's (Arzal) both run riot and they'll go a right gallop.
"Hopefully what we'll be able to do is to jump at a different pace because he won't be dictating himself.
"He made the running the other day because no-one else wanted to. Touch wood, we'll see what we can do.
"He's a good horse, I hope, and this will tell us where we are. We'd like to think he's an Arkle horse and this will tell us."
Gary Moore is pleased with Ar Mad, who is already a Grade One winner:
He said: "He seems in great form. Having walked the course I'd like to see a drop more rain to make it a bit softer as it is good ground out there. It looks like it will be run at a right good pace by the looks of things.
"I'm not fussed if he doesn't lead. He doesn't have to make the running, that's just the way his last two races have gone.
"He won over hurdles over two-miles-five and he didn't make the running that day and when he ran in France he didn't make the running."