Cheltenham Festival: Faugheen features among 23 Champion Hurdle entries

Sky Bet's 5/4 ante-post favourite Faugheen heads 23 entries for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, the highlight on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on March 10.

Willie Mullins' charge, who has made impressive appearances at Ascot and Kempton so far this season, took the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at last year's Festival and is bidding to follow in the hoofprints of Hardy Eustace and Istabraq, who won that prestigious race en route to Champion Hurdle glory.

Faugheen is one of seven entries from the Mullins yard, with dual winner Hurricane Fly set for his fifth appearance in hurdling's Blue Riband.

The evergreen 11-year-old has returned this season with two hard-fought victories over the reigning champion Jezki in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, which took his Grade One tally to a record 21.

Faugheen's owner Susannah Ricci is also responsible for star mare Annie Power, who was second in last year's Ladbrokes World Hurdle - her only defeat, and Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Vautour. The Mullins team is completed by Un De Sceaux, who along with Vautour has embarked on a novice chasing campaign, plus the Wicklow Bloodstock Limited-owned pair of Arctic Fire and Diakali.

Jessica Harrington's Jezki won a thrilling renewal of the Stan James Champion Hurdle in 2014 by a neck from My Tent Or Yours in record time and could return for another crack.

The New One , 5/2 second favourite with Sky Bet, rallied strongly to finish third last year after being badly hampered. He confirmed himself as the leading British hope with an impressive victory over Nicky Henderson's Vaniteux in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 13.

Henderson is the most successful current trainer in the Champion Hurdle with five victories courtesy of See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987), Punjabi (2009) and Binocular (2010). As well as Vaniteux, the Lambourn handler has put in Christmas Hurdle fourth Sign Of A Victory.

Henderson accepts Vaniteux would have it all to do. The Seven Barrows handler told BetRacingNation TV: "Really, we're just biding our time before he goes chasing next year. We left him over hurdles as I didn't think he was ready for chasing.

"He was always going to have a tricky season and he's had three runs and finished second in all three, all in top-class races.

"I've put him in the Champion Hurdle because I can't really see where else we can go. We upped him in trip and it didn't really help.

"I think it's just marking time for next season."

The 12-strong Irish-trained entry includes last season's JCB Triumph Hurdle victor Tiger Roll from Gordon Elliott's yard and the unexposed Kitten Rock. The Edward O'Grady-trained five-year-old has recorded two facile victories this season.

O'Grady said: "I have been pleased with Kitten Rock and the plan is to run him in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on Saturday.

"You have got to be happy with what he has done so far this season. It's not easy to place a four stroke five-year-old second season novice and he looks high in the handicap, so at this stage we thought he deserved an entry in the Champion Hurdle.

"I would like to bring him to Cheltenham if he proves he is up to it. We have also put him in the World Hurdle but, if he goes to The Festival, I would prefer to run in the Champion Hurdle.

"I think he is a better horse on soft ground, but that's not to say he won't run on good ground."

The Irish-trained entries are completed by Grade Two-winning mare Little King Robin and Plinth.

Britain's champion trainer Paul Nicholls has engaged Fighting Fifth Hurdle victor Irving and Calipto, while his former assistant Dan Skelton has entered Bertimont and Blue Heron.

The entries are completed by Greatwood Hurdle winner Garde La Victoire and Grade Two scorer Zamdy Man, plus the John Ferguson-trained pair of Purple Bay, winner of the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November, and Sea Lord.