The Irish look to have their sights set on this year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle as they were responsible for 21 of the 34 entries for the Cheltenham showpiece on Wednesday.

After Nicky Henderson won the race last year with Punjabi, the Irish clearly feel it could be there year and their challenge will be lead by Noel Meade’s 2009 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Go Native.

He could be joined by fellow raider Solwhit, Charles Byrnes’ multiple Grade 1 winner and talented mare Voler La Vedette, a 13-length winner over Go Native earlier in the season.

Interestingly Philip Fenton has entered the exciting novice Dunguib in the race but seems likely to allow his superstar to take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle instead.

The home defence will be lead by current antepost favourite for the race Zaynar, last year’s JCB Triumph Hurdle winner.  Trained by Nicky Henderson, he is likely to be joined by stablemates Punjabi and Binocular and it will be interesting to see what all three do in the build up to March.

The likes of Khyber Kim, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, last year's runner-up Celestial Halo, the 2008 champion Katchit and Medermit have all also been entered for the big race.

Follow this link to Ladbrokes for information on how to get a free bet on the 2010 Champion Hurdle.

Champion Hurdle - Ladbrokes

2m, Cheltenham, March 2010
5 Zaynar, 6 Go Native, 6 Solwhit, 8 Binocular,8 Punjabi, 9 Khyber Kim, 10 Celestial Halo, 14 Starluck, 16 Voler La Vedette, 25 Sublimity, 50 Quevega, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)