Istabraq will face 14 rivals when he bids for a fourth success in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow. Aidan O'Brien's 10-year-old will be joined by five other Irish challengers; Dermot Weld's Ansar, Chimes At Midnight (Luke Comer), Penny Rich (Tom Hogan), Rostropovich (Mouse Morris) and Liss A Paoraigh (John Kiely).
Leading British hopefuls Valiramix, Landing Light and Hors La Loi III all stand their ground for the two mile showpiece contest. The most notable absentees from the line-up are Azertyuiop, Brtoher Joe and Rouble.
A full field of 28 horses has been declared for the Gerrard Supreme Novices' Hurdle where the Irish contingent will be hoping Like-A-Butterfly can get the meeting off to a winning start.
Ferdy Murphy has left his promising chaser Truckers Tavern in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy. The seven-year-old will be one of the 12 horses that go to post for the two-mile race. Seebald, Barton and Irish challengers Youlneverwalkalone and Moscow Flyer head the rest of the field.
Racing Post Chase winner Gunther McBride is among the 23 runners for the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase. The list of challengers are headed by progressive chasers Carryonharry, Frenchman's Creek and Gola Cher.
There are also bumper fields for the later races with 24 horses left in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Cup Handicap Chase and the full 24 set to line up in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle. Nicky Henderson's horse The Bushkeeper is an early favourite to take the amateurs event while Calladine from the yard of Christy Roche heads the market for the Pertemps race.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
