A MOUTHWATERING renewal of the Champion Chase is still on the cards as the big guns stood there ground at the confirmation stage.
Altior, Chacun Pour Soi and Defi Du Seuil remain on course for the day two feature, with 11 horses left in contention.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Altior is bidding to become only the second three-time winner of the two-mile showpiece, after Badsworth Boy racked up a hat-trick in the 1980’s.
Defi Du Seuil has been the star of the division in Britain so far this term, winning each of his three starts for trainer Philip Hobbs and owner JP McManus.
And the lightly-raced Chacun Pour Soi, who beat Defi Du Seuil at the Punchestown Festival last year, regained the winning thread in impressive fashion at Leopardstown last month.
Both Min and A Plus Tard are still in the race, though both are likely to run in Thurday’s Ryanair, while Politologue, Dynamite Dollars, Sceau Royal, Bun Doran, Hell’s Kitchen and Lady Buttons are the other hopefuls.
Meanwhile, hot favourite Envoi Allen heads 25 possible runners in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
The Gordon Elliot-trained star could be joined by stablemate Easywork, impressive Ascot winner Sporting John and the exciting The Big Getaway in the day two opener.
Minella Indo, last year’s Albert Bartlett hero, and multiple Grade 1-winning 12-year-old Faugheen are still entered up in the RSA Chase.
And Tiger Roll remains on course to defend his crown in the Cross Country, for which is the star name among 23 possible runners.
