Buveur D'Air and Faugheen could clash in Irish Champion Hurdle

Buveur D'Air and Faugheen, Champion Hurdle winners past and present, top the entries for the first day of the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival on February 3.

They could clash in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle, whose initial field of 17 also includes Gordon Elliott's smart novices Samcro and Mengli Khan, plus Ryanair Hurdle winner Mick Jazz.

Alongside Nicky Henderson's Buveur D'Air, other British entries are Defi Du Seuil (trained by Philip Hobbs) and Ch’tibello (Dan Skelton).

Samcro is also in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, which is the first of seven Grade 1 races at the festival and has attracted 35 entries horses, with recent Naas winner Next Destination among 11 put in by Willie Mullins.

Next Destination: Willie Mullins' charge was a good winner at NaasCredit: Caroline Norris

Racing Post Arkle Chase favourite Footpad is among ten entries for the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John is not in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup, one of four Grade 1 races on the second day of the meeting, but his trainer Jessica Harrington has entered Our Duke.

The 22 entries include 15 Irish-trained Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes, while Jonjo O'Neill could run Minella Rocco and Brian Ellison's Definitly Red.

Leading JCB Triumph Hurdle contender Espoir D’Allen is in the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle, while Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Getabird is in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle.

Leopardstown CEO Pat Keogh said: "The Dublin Racing Festival is a major initiative for Irish racing and it's great that it has attracted such quality in depth. I would like to thank all the owners and trainers for their support."

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