The entries for the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival have increased this year with a total of 27 entered.
There is once again a strong presence of Irish trained horses among the entries which includes three former Irish Point-to-Pointers.
2015 was the last time this race was won by an Irish Pointer, which saw Faugheen hold off stablemate Arctic Fire by a length and a half.
The three Irish point-to-pointers entered for the event include;
The Gordon Elliott trained Samcro is among the entries, the seven-year-old started his career with Wexford handler Colin Bowe and posted an impressive performance on his debut at Monksgrange when beating subsequent Welsh National winner Elegant Escape by one length.
The son of Germany was then sold to Gigginstown House for £335,000 at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale.
Samcro is currently a 12/1 shot to land the Grade 1 event.
Petit Mouchoir is another from the Gordon Elliott stable that has an entry, this dual Grade 1 performer won on his initial start at Kirkistown for his current connections.
He has been a great servant to his connections winning the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle and the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle both at Leopardstown.
Ben Pauling trains the third Irish Pointer in the line-up, Global Citizen a four-time winner on the track.
Carlow handler Willie Murphy saddled Global Citizen to win his point-to-point maiden at Bellurgan Park and was subsequently sold to connections at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale for £275,000.
