Last year's winner Hardy Eustace heads 15 declarations for Tuesday's Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Hardy Eustace is the 3-1 favourite with both William Hill and Ladbrokes after the Dessie Hughes-trained gelding completed his Festival preparations with a win at Gowran.
The champion leads an awesome eight-strong Irish contingent, with seven of these competing at the head of the betting.
Edward O'Grady's Back In Front is another leading contender, as is former favourite Harchibald, who is pleasing trainer Noel Meade once again after disappointing in a racecourse gallop.
Irish Champion Hurdle winner Macs Joy, Brave Inca, Accordion Etoile, Al Eile and Essex complete the contingent from the Emerald Isle.
Rooster Booster, winner of the 2003 Champion Hurdle, heads the home defence, backed up by Intersky Falcon, Self Defense and Royal Shakespeare.
Michael Scudamore's rank outsider Astonville, Present Bleu, and Turnium complete the field.
The only withdrawal at the final declaration stage was the Scudamore-trained Solarius.
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Irish invasion
