Michael O'Brien's Essex will be bidding to follow up on his Pierse Hurdle win when he lines up with 26 others in the totesport hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.
The other Irish-trained runners are Noel Meade's Power Elite, the John Queally-trained Al Eile and Tiger Cry from Arthur Moore's yard.
Steve Gollings' Smurfit Champion Hurdle hope Royal Shakespeare heads the weights on 11st 12lb, 1lb above Geos, who won the big handicap in 2000 and again last year.
Geos's trainer Nicky Henderson has also won the Trophy with Sharpical and Landing Light in the last seven years.
He runs Non So as well with stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald opting for the seven-year-old, who has been chasing this season, with Tom Phelan taking the ride on Geos.
Champion trainer Martin Pipe has his usual powerful team with seven runners. They are 2002 winner Copeland, Tony McCoy's mount Tamarinbleu, Polar Red, the Timmy Murphy-ridden Escompteur, Desert Air, Bongo Fury and Idaho D'ox.
