Last year’s winner Hurricane Fly heads 20 remaining entries for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13 following the latest scratchings deadline.
Willie Mullins’ top-class gelding is the 8/11 favourite with Victor Chandler to retain his title after making a triumphant return in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.
Mullins is responsible for six of the nine Irish-trained horses in the list as he has Final Approach, Mikael D’Haguenet, So Young, Thousand Stars and Zaidpour.
Oscar Whisky, who was third to Hurricane Fly in last year’s renewal, has been taken out by trainer Nicky Henderson and will instead take on Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle.
Henderson is still represented by the 2010 hero Binocular and Grandouet, winner of the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has four possibles in Brampour, Celestial Halo, Rock On Ruby and Zarkandar as he seeks a first success in this race.
Past winners Sizing Europe and Big Zeb figure among a 14-strong field left in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on March 14 at the latest forfeit stage.
Sizing Europe defeated 2010 scorer Big Zeb last spring and has also a victory over Colm Murphy’s runner this term, and he is the 11/10 favourite to beat Big Zeb (5/1) again at Cheltenham with Victor Chandler.
There are two other Irish-trained possibles – Willie Mullins’ Blazing Tempo and Realt Dubh, trained by Noel Meade.
Henrietta Knight has left in last year’s fifth Somersby but he is more likely to go for the Ryanair this time.
Paul Nicholls has two hopefuls in Hold Fast and Kauto Stone while others of interest include Nicky Henderson’s Finian’s Rainbow and Donald McCain’s novice Peddlers Cross, who also in the Arkle Trophy