Mouse Morris has described Last Man Standing as "next year's horse" ahead of Tuesday's Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.
The Sue Magnier-owned five-year-old opened his account at the fourth attempt over obstacles, easily winning a 14-runner maiden hurdle at Thurles.
He was also entered in a similar race back at Thurles later in the week over two and a half miles, but Morris is happy for him to stay at three miles having already proven his stamina.
"He's a long-term project, next year's horse," said Morris.
"I wanted to step him up a gear, but only gradually and there are not too many places to go.
"He's a nice horse, he wants three miles so I'm not worried about that, but it's a big thing going from his race the last day into a Grade Three.
"It wasn't a bad race he won, but this will be a big jump.
"I've been surprised with how he handles heavy ground, to be honest - the better the ground, the better the horse.
"We'll see how he gets on in this before deciding if he'll run again, he'll tell us."
Last Man Standing is one of six runners that also includes Jessica Harrington's Moonshine Bay and the Gordon Elliott pair of Burren Life and Monkshood.