Duo stand Champion ground

Binocular: Champion doubt

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Despite doubts over their participation, both Binocular and Solwhit have been left in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the six-day stage, where Go Native heads the 17-strong entry list.

Binocular had been expected to miss the Cheltenham Festival but could book his place in the line-up if pleasing connections when working this week, while Solwhit had been challenging for favouritism before scoping badly on Monday and he faces a race against time to be fit for the big race.

Two notable absentees are Dunguib and Quevega, but they both have alternative Cheltenham targets with the former odds-on to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Quevega defending her crown in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Binocular, has also declared last year's winner Punjabi, while Paul Nicholls is represented by and Zaynar Celestial Halo, who was second in the race last season.

A strong Irish team is headed by Go Native and also includes Donnas Palm, Ebadiyan, Jumbo Rio, Kargali, Muirhead, Raise Your Heart, Royal And Regal, and Won In The Dark.

Bonus

The Noel Meade-trained seven-year-old comes into the race in pursuit a £1million bonus from betting exchange wbx.com, having already won the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.

This year's race will be the last one to be known as the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, with the world-leading paper packaging group ending their sponsorship of the race.

The company has sponsored the race since 1991 in an era that has included the career of Istabraq, one of the most dominant hurdlers of modern times.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's managing director, said: "It has been a joy to have the support of Smurfit Kappa for so many years.

"Sir Michael Smurfit, a great friend to racing, was initially the driving force behind the deal and it was appropriate that he had a runner in the first Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 1991.

"It wasn't until 1998 that the great Istabraq became the first Irish winner of the race under the Smurfit banner, and since then, Irish-trained horses have won on a further six occasions.

"On behalf of everyone at Cheltenham, I'd like to express our huge gratitude to Smurfit Kappa for everything the company has done to promote this great race."