Irish squad odds-on to capture Champion

NewsIt's just 1 to 2 about one of the 10-strong Irish team who remain in next week's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle emerging best, as last year's principals are again being lined up for Tuesday's opening day festival highlight at Cheltenham

Sixteen horses stand their ground in the race, including ante-post favourite Detroit City from Philips Hobbs's yard.

But the first four from last year's Irish clean sweep are all in contention to run again, including title-holder Brave Inca and former double Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace.

Also involved are the star mare Asian Maze and the gambled-on Sublimity, who is now as low as 14 to 1 after being backed at 66 to 1 a number of weeks ago.

Despite Detroit City heading the betting, bookmaker reaction to yesterday's declarations was to make the Irish team long odds on, with Cashmans as low as 1 to 2. The Cork firm offer 6 to 4 about an English horse coming out on top. Paddy Power are 4 to 7 about an Irish winner.

Also in the Irish squad for the Champion Hurdle is the 2005 runner-up Harchibald, although trainer Noel Meade has indicated the enigmatic star may not run if ground conditions are too testing.

Paul Carberry has already chosen Iktitaf from the three Meade-trained contenders, but the former champion jockey faces a battle to be fit in time for the festival having hurt a foot in an accident at home last weekend.

"It will be the weekend before I know the score. It's not broken, but it is sore," Carberry reported.

Aran Concerto is the horse Carberry will be most looking forward to, and the hot-favourite for the Ballymore Properties is also one of 18 Irish entries left in Tuesday's Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices Hurdle.

Another Ballymore contender left in the Supreme is Edward O'Grady's Catch Me, but that one's stable companion Clopf is a more likely runner for the Tipperary trainer.

One high-profile horse out of the Supreme is Tommy Stack's Perce Rock, and as a result Tony McCoy is now likely to switch to the Niall Madden-trained Wins Now, who is also owned by JP McManus.

In contrast, there are just two Irish possibles for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy in Jessica Harrington's Gemini Lucy and Vintage Treasure from the Charles Byrnes stable.

The veteran star Spot Thedifference is on course to try to repeat his 2005 triumph in the Sporting Index Cross County Chase on Day One, where he is likely to be joined by another Enda Bolger-trained hope, Heads Onthe Ground.