Quevega: still in the running for Friday's Rabobank Champion Hurdle
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)Quevega among six left in Champion Hurdle
QUEVEGA, favourite to land back-to-back Ladbrokes World Series Hurdles on Thursday, has been left in the running for Friday's Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Quevega could face three Willie Mullins-trained stablemates in Friday's Grade 1 with 2011 winner Hurricane Fly, John Smith's Aintree Hurdle runner-up Thousand Stars and Zaidpour among the six remaining entries.
Overturn, winner of the 2010 Guinness Galway Hurdle, is the sole British raider as the Edward O'Grady-trained The Real Article completes the line up.
Go Native, winner of the 2009 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, was due to make a comeback after more than two years off the track through injury, but was among those withdrawn at the final entry stage on Monday.
Salsify and Zemsky, the last two winners of the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, are among the 25 entries for Friday's Racing Post Champion Hunter Chase, while champion trainer Willie Mullins still has five entries in the Grade 1 Cathal Ryan Memorial Novice Hurdle on the same card. The 147-rated Felix Yonger tops that billing.
The final Grade 1 of the five-day meeting on Saturday, the AES Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, features the third, fifth and sixth home from Cheltenham's JCB Triumph Hurdle with Hisaabat, Wingtips and Sadlers Risk all among the 17 remaining after Monday's forfeit stage.
Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle winner Alderwood, declared for Tuesday's Grade 1 Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, is top weight for Saturday's valuable Setantabet.com Handicap Hurdle.
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