Racing: Last year's winner Sublimity heads 38 classy entries for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
John Carr's eight-year-old will bid to join an elite list of multiple winners that includes the likes of Hardy Eustace, Istabraq, See You Then and Comedy Of Errors.
Irish runners have had a stranglehold on the hurdling championship since 2003 when Philip Hobbs' Rooster Booster waltzed away with the race.
Along with the defending champion, other notable Irish charges include the Noel Meade squad of Aitmatov, Harchibald, Jazz Messenger and, intriguingly, former Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle winner Nicanor who is yet to be seen this season.
The likes of Al Eile, Catch Me, Clopf, Farmer Brown, Ebaziyan, Silent Oscar and Sizing Europe will all pose a strong threat to the home team.
Straw Bear, Afsoun, Blythe Knight, Osana and Katchit appear to form the key components of that home defence, while potential top-class novices such as Blue Bajan, Khyber Kim and Striking Article have all been handed entries.
