Alan King is hoping to have Uxizandre back at his peak in the spring as he awaits the return of the 2015 Ryanair Chase hero.
The eight-year-old has been out of action since giving Tony McCoy his final Cheltenham Festival winner and is unlikely to be seen before the end of the year.
However, the JP McManus-owned gelding is very much back on the comeback trail and King is hoping he will line up at the Festival again in March.
"He's only been back a couple of weeks. He's cantering at the moment and he won't be ready before Christmas," said the Barbury Castle handler.
"Quite where we start him, I don't know, but he has to go left-handed. It's great to have him back.
"We'll work towards the spring. Whether he's a Queen Mother horse or one for the Ryanair, at this stage, I'm not sure."