A cracking renewal of the JCB Triumph Hurdle looks on the cards with quality to the fore amongst 77 entries.
The first two from an informative trial last weekend, Grumeti and Pearl Swan, are likely to lock horns once again.
Alan King has a good record in the race and Grumeti is scheduled to have one more run before March. King could also run Vendor, Balder Succes, Ardlui and Fire Fighter, while Paul Nicholls trains Pearl Swan but he could also run Dildar, Ranjaan and Hinterland as he attempts to follow up last year's win with Zarkandar.
Sadler's Risk, formerly smart on the level for Mark Johnston, made an impressive winning hurdling debut for Philip Hobbs and is already one of the favourites.
John Ferguson could saddle Asaid and Creekside, who both made exciting hurdling debuts in early January, while David Pipe has entered Kazlian and Nick Williams could saddle Urbain De Sivola, who hasn't been seen since trouncing the opposition at Newbury on November 25.
Among the 28 Irish entries is Dessie Hughes' Minsk, winner of the Irish Cesarewitch for John Oxx but yet to jump a hurdle in public.
Ut De Sivola, Darroun, Sportsmaster and Shadow Catcher are other eyecatching Irish entrants.
