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Eight have been declared for the Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Eight-time Grade 1 winning hurdler State Man heads the market with Gordon Elliott's Irish Point set to oppose, having switched from the Stayers' Hurdle later in the week. Nicky Henderson will be double-handed in the contest with the supplemented Iberico Lord and Luccia.
The Grade 1 Arkle Trophy appears to be a wide open renewal, with Willie Mullins' Gaelic Warrior expected to start favourite. Second in last year's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, the gelding will be aiming to get back on track after unseating Paul Townend at the final fence at the Dublin Racing Festival. JPR One, from the Joe Tizzard table, will head the British opposition after his victory in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Chase at Lingfield.
Despite switching ante-post favourite Ballyburn to the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle on Wednesday, Willie Mullins' holds a strong hand in the opening race of the Festival, the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Chase. Paul Townend will ride the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Tullyhill, an impressive Listed winner at Punchestown, whilst Mark Walsh gets the leg-up on the unbeaten Mythical Power, the first foal out of Champion Hurdler Annie Power.
Elsewhere on the card, Lossiemouth will be a hot favourite for the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle after victory in last year's Triumph Hurdle with opposition from her stablemates Ashroe Diamond and Gala Marceau. Seven have been declared for the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase including Lucinda Russell's Apple Away, who has been taken out of the Ultima Handicap Chase in favour of the stamina contest.
