Sizing Europe and defending champion Sublimity are among 17 declarations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Tuesday following today's final declarations, but a notable absentee is De Valira. The subject of recent ante-post support, he has picked up an injury while schooling. Ruby Walsh, who had been booked for the ride on Michael O'Brien's six-year-old, could now switch to Willie Mullins' Ebaziyan, last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner.
Another who did not appear among the final field was Noel Meade's Jazz Messenger who had emerged as a doubt on Saturday. Ireland's champion trainer will still be represented by Harchibald, runner-up in 2005. David Pipe's Osana will have his first run since winning the Boylesports International, Katchit will go for Alan King while Nicky Henderson will have two runners, Afsoun and Punjabi. Blythe Knight, Bobs Pride, Catch Me, Contraband, Farmer Brown, Kalderon, Kawagino, Salford City and Straw Bear complete the line-up.
Sizing Europe is a general 9-4 favourite, but the form of his trainer, Henry de Bromhead, is a slight cause for concern. De Bromhead has gone 35 days without a winner, and my colleague Chris Cook points out that the trainer has not had a winner in the month of March since 2004. It will be interesting to see how de Bromhead's two runners perform at Naas today.
Zacharova (3.45), the mount of the promising claimer Aidan Coleman, has sound claims at Market Rasen today, while the in-form Boing Boing (4.35) is surely a step ahead of the handicapper at Warwick.
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