Kauto Star's chances of being fit for Cheltenham next week look brighter after a racecourse gallop at Wincanton.
It was feared the 12-year-old would miss the Gold Cup on 16 March after a fall but he has recovered rapidly.
The two-time Gold Cup winner was put through his paces for two miles by regular jockey Ruby Walsh and ran alongside Mon Parrain.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "If he's all right on Sunday and schools on Monday then we're in business."
He added: I'm very, very pleased and Ruby said that he could hardly hold him. I didn't want him to do too much but they quickened up a bit.
"I can't tell you the difference between looking at him now and last Friday. It's a phenomenal difference and it's a huge relief because everyone can see if he's in good or bad shape and he looked in really good order.
"He looks like he did before Haydock [Betfair Chase win] and the King George and he's full of enthusiasm. We've still got another week now. I would say we are almost certain to be there.
"Last weekend we were very touch and go. Sunday I was thinking we were in trouble and thought the easiest thing would be not to run him, but the improvement has been unbelievable."
Last week Nicholls said Kauto Star was only "50-50" to compete in the race after falling at the stable yard.
Kauto Star has become an iconic jump racing figure in a record-breaking career which included an unprecedented fifth King George VI Chase in six years at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The Gold Cup would provide a much-anticipated showdown between the veteran and defending champion Long Run, who is five years his junior.
Since his fall when schooling over small obstacles on 26 February, Kauto Star has been having physiotherapy and an hour's exercise on a horse walker every day.
Nicholls said Kauto Star took "a pretty awful fall" when he broke the news six days after his tumble.
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