Haydock Park's reopened Champion Hurdle Trial got a shot in the arm today, even though no more entries were made.
The track revealed a new sponsorship deal for the Grade Two contest, which had been without a backer since Intercity's decision to switch its support to five races at the course's April 1st meeting.
The £27,500 event will carry the branding of Red Square - a pre-mix alcoholic energy drink containing a shot and half of vodka.
Previous winners Relkeel (successful in 1995), Dato Star (1998) and Master Beveled (1999) were among the original six entries for the race revealed today.
Alan King has confirmed three-time Bula Hurdle winner Relkeel on course for Haydock, where he could renew rivalry with Far Cry whom he beat by a neck at Cheltenham last month.
Far Cry, winner of the Northumberland Plate and Doncaster Cup on the Flat, is Martin Pipe's sole representative in Saturday's race.
He is currently quoted as short as 8-1 in some lists for the Champion Hurdle, despite having run only twice over timber.
Nicky Henderson has entered Bacchanal but a stable spokeswoman revealed that the gelding is not certain to be in the line-up.
Sunset Lodge, trained in Ireland by Charles Byrnes, completes the field.
The eight-year-old came back from over a year off to make all and spread-eagle his rivals at Leopardstown earlier this month.
Byrnes intends making the journey with Sunset Lodge, who was highly-rated as a novice.
Saturday's most valuable race is the £42,500 Bet Direct Peter Marsh Chase and the winner will receive a £50,000 bonus, courtesy of the sponsors, if going on to be successful in this season's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and Martell Grand National.
The going is currently described as soft at the Merseyside track and racing manager Lisa Rowe said: "We may get a small amount of rain in the middle of the week, but otherwise it is forecast to be mild and dry.
"If the forecast is right, there's a chance we could be good to soft by Saturday."
