Dunguib towers over Supreme rivals

Dunguib heads 66 horses standing their ground at the latest forfeit stage for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on 16 March.

Last year's Weatherbys Champion Bumper hero, trained by Philip Fenton, is unbeaten over hurdles is seen as one of the bankers of the meeting.

Although he is still in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, Dunguib is expected to line-up instead in the race that opens the four-day Festiva.

Get Me Out Of Here is his main rival in the ante-post market and the totesport trophy Hurdle victor has been left in by trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

Other leading fancies include Nicky Henderson's unbeaten Oscar Whisky and the Philip Hobbs-trained Menorah, despite suffering a surprise defeat at Ascot on Saturday.

There are still 19 Irish-trained possibles and a total of 36 horses have been scratched.