Epatante, Honeysuckle and Sharjah among 27 entered for the Champion Hurdle

Last year's heroine Epatante, star mare Honeysuckle and three-time Matheson Hurdle hero Sharjah were among a star-studded cast of 27 entries announced on Wednesday for the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Epatante, who put up a brilliant performance with a three-length success last year, made the perfect start to her 2020-21 campaign with a scintillating display in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in November.

However, she suffered a surprise defeat when a well-held second in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Champion Hurdle entries

Despite that turnover, the seven-year-old remains the 9-4 favourite with the race sponsors to retain her crown in the championship contest and become the 14th horse to win back-to-back Champion Hurdles.

She is the headline act among six entries made by Henderson, the race's leading trainer with eight wins, which include 2017 and 2018 victor Buveur D'Air, who has not been seen on a racecourse since suffering an injury during his shock Fighting Fifth Hurdle defeat in November 2019.

Watch Epatante's brilliant victory in last year's Champion Hurdle

The best of the remaining British contingent is headed by Silver Streak, who slammed Epatante by six and a half lengths in the Christmas Hurdle, while Goshen and Song For Someone are also entered for the March 16 showpiece.

The Tom Symonds-trained Song For Someone has stamped his credentials as a Champion Hurdle dark horse with two Grade 2 victories this season, with his latest coming in the International Hurdle at Prestbury Park last month.

While he is not certain to line up in the field, the trainer was delighted to see his stable star handle the contours of Cheltenham last time out.

"The Champion Hurdle is firmly in the picture and it would be great to have a runner in a championship race like that," he said. "I'm absolutely thrilled with him at home. He's very well and seems to have come out of the International in great form.

"I was absolutely delighted with his win at Cheltenham and despite the circumstances, it was great to see him prove his liking of the track."

Tom Symonds: could have a Champion Hurdle dark horse in three-time Grade 2 winner Song For SomeoneCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Aintree Hurdle could also be on the cards for Song For Someone but his spring target will become clearer following his next appearance, which also remains up in the air.

"There are three races we are currently weighing up with one of them acting as his prep before one of the big spring festivals," Symonds added. "He could go to Haydock for The New One Unibet Hurdle a week on Saturday, the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown Park or the Kingwell at Wincanton.

"I think the weather will play a big part as to what race he actually runs in and I'm not really leaning to any of them at the moment. We will enter him in the three races as they come along and then decide where to go."

The Irish battalion could be headed by last year's Mares' Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle, who will also have the option of that 2m4f contest again, while Sharjah could aim to go one better than last year's second place and is one of five entries made by Willie Mullins.

Last season's narrow Supreme Novices' Hurdle second Abacadabras, Saint Roi and Aspire Tower could also take their chance and form part of a 12-strong entry of Irish-trained runners.

There could be international flavour from further afield courtesy of the former Harry Fry-trained Winston C, who was a two-time Grade 1 winner in the US for the now-retired Jonathan Sheppard and is now trained by his former assistant Keri Brion.

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Silver Streak gains deserved Grade 1 win in Christmas Hurdle as Epatante falters

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