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Champion Hurdle five-day confirmations5th March 2008
There were no major surprises among the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle defectors as Sizing Europe, Osana and reigning title-holder Sublimity all appeared among the five-day confirmations today.
Hardy Eustace, Al Eile and Silent Oscar were the most notable among the eight to drop out, although connections of the former confirmed him on target for a crack at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle earlier in the week.
Silent Oscar was arguably the most notable of the eight horses to defect: "He just didn't pull up 100% clean on the scope this morning," explained trainer Harry Rogers.
"He just wasn't totally clean and we're not willing to take a chance on him after that. It's obviously disappointing but we have to put the horse first. Hopefully, and you never know, there could be Liverpool and Punchestown."
Accordion Etoile, Majadal, Lounaos, the retired Amaretto Rose and Supreme Novices' Hurdle-bound Pigeon Island complete the list of defectors.
Their guaranteed absence leaves a list of 21 horses still engaged in Tuesday's Grade One feature at the Cheltenham Festival.
Noel Meade is able to choose from the resurgent Harchibald, Jazz Messenger and Aitmatov, while Straw Bear, Punjabi and Katchit add weight to the British challenge.
Ante-post favourite Noland heads 17 confirmations for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy on Tuesday.
The 2006 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner has won both his starts over fences since returning from a long lay-off and, along with Marodima, represents champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
Irish trainer Willie Mullins looks like relying on Scotsirish after withdrawing J'y Vole and Pomme Tiepy as well as the injured Glencove Marina.
Other possibles from across the Irish Sea are the Edward O'Grady-trained Clopf, Paul Nolan's French Accordion and Thyne Again from Liam Burke's stable.
John Quinn's Leslingtaylor and Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay, who clashed at Doncaster on their latest start, are strong fancies trained in the north of England.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has left in Mahogany Blaze and Tramantano while Charlie Egerton's Kruguyrova is the sole remaining mare.
The list is completed by Enlightenment, Gardasee, Moon Over Miami, Orpen Wide, Premiership and Ring The Boss.
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle 2008 entries (11th March 2008):
Key: Form, Horse, Age, Trainer
233- 2541 AFSOUN (FR) 6 Nicky Henderson
214- 111P AITMATOV (GER) 7 Noel Meade IRE
1321- 6 BLYTHE KNIGHT (IRE) 8 John Quinn
D411- 50 BOBS PRIDE (IRE) 6 Dermot Weld IRE
2U3F- 14 CATCH ME (GER) 6 Edward O'Grady IRE
2P0450- CONTRABAND 10 Paul Murphy
P355- 11 CYBERGENIC (FR) 10 Richard Chotard FR
11201F- DE VALIRA (IRE) 6 Michael O'Brien IRE
0- 453415 EBAZIYAN (IRE) 7 Willie Mullins IRE
111225 FARMER BROWN (IRE) 7 Pat Hughes IRE
2/455- 12 HARCHIBALD (FR) 9 Noel Meade IRE
150- 113 JAZZ MESSENGER (FR) 8 Noel Meade IRE
110462- KALDERON (GER) 8 Tom Hogan IRE
111- 132 KATCHIT (IRE) 5 Alan King
22F5620 KAWAGINO (IRE) 8 Seamus Mullins
4102- 21 OSANA (FR) 6 David Pipe
11421- 42 PUNJABI 5 Nicky Henderson
213163 SALFORD CITY (IRE) 7 Gordon Elliott IRE
1351- F11 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 6 Henry de Bromhead IRE
421P- 612 STRAW BEAR (USA) 7 Nick Gifford
444/11- 4 SUBLIMITY (FR) 8 John Carr IRE