Alan King’s four-year-old is currently the only serious British challenger for the Champion Hurdle crown that has been dominated by Irish horses in recent years. Heading up the challenge are the Noel Meade pair of Jazz Messenger and the mercurial Harchibald, along with Willie Mullins’ Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Ebaziyan and Edward O’Grady’s Clopf. Al Eile is another top-notch Irish performer in contention for the Grade One event, the first leg of a 1m bonus being offered by the sponsors.