Cheltenham yesterday revealed an increase in entries for the Capel Cure Sharpe Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Royal & the SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.
No fewer than 137 horses have been put in the SunAlliance with 122 in the Supreme - a total beaten only once in the past 10 years.
Smurfit Champion Hurdle possibles given alternative options in the Supreme include Dermot Weld's Stage Affair and Martin Pipe's Far Cry.
But the 89-strong initial field for the Triumph Hurdle is down on recent years - only one smaller entry has been made since 1991.
Big-money buys entered for the Triumph without having raced over hurdles include the former John Oxx-trained Ansar. Now trained by Weld, he is an entry for Leopardstown on Sunday.
The latter is among 22 Martin Pipe-trained entries, along with Tote Gold Trophy favourite Mr Lamb and Rodock.
Pipe also has 13 in the SunAlliance and nine in the Triumph - a contest in which Nicky Henderson's six engaged include leading fancies Mister Banjo and Regal Exit.
Brendan Powell yesterday expressed high hopes that his latest injury setback will not prevent his teaming up again with Young Kenny at Uttoxeter on Saturday.
He is aiming to return to action at Towcester on Thursday, after x-rays revealed that damage the jump jockey suffered in a fall at Doncaster last Friday was not serious.
