Istabraq headed 15 horses confirmed at yesterday's five-day stage for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next Tuesday.
Aidan O'Brien's star, who will be bidding for a third success in the race, is set to be joined by stablemate Theatreworld, runnerup in the Grade One contest for the last three seasons.
Leading the home defence is the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Dato Star, unbeaten in three starts this season, while Martin Pipe has confirmed Make A Stand, winner of the event in 1997 but unraced since the April of that year.
Venetia Williams has left in Lady Rebecca who has an alternative engagement in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle, while Mark Pitman's 'dark horse' Ashley Park, the winner of his sole start over hurdles last season, remains in the line-up.
A strong overseas challenge is completed by Francois Doumen's Hors La Loi III, winner of the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last time, Dermot Weld's Stage Affair, who chased home Istabraq in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February, and recent Gowran winner Balla Sola.
Richard Johnson has picked up the plum spare ride aboard Looks Like Trouble in next Thursday's Gold Cup. But the jockey had to endure a scare at Wincanton yesterday where he had to give up the remainder of his rides after a heavy fall in the opener.
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