BLEU Et Rouge is the sole Irish runner in a maximum field of 24 for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

Willie Mullins' charge was fourth in a competitive hurdle at Ascot last time and has been allotted 11st 10lb.

With Barry Geraghty aboard, he will actually carry the most weight in the race as High Bridge and Jenkins head the official weights, but both have claiming riders reducing their impost.

The Ben Pauling-trained High Bridge won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle over the course and distance on his latest appearance at the start of December and while he shares top-weight of 11st 12lb for one of the season's most fiercely competitive handicaps, amateur rider Alex Ferguson takes a handy 7lb off his back.

Joining High Bridge at the top of the weights is Jenkins, who has appeared a reformed character since being fitted with blinkers, winning his last two races at Kempton and Ascot, and c rack conditional James Bowen takes 3lb off his back.

Jenkins is one of five runners for Nicky Henderson as he bids for his sixth Betfair Hurdle success.

The other Seven Barrows representatives are Kayf Grace (Nico de Boinville), Lough Derg Spirit (Jeremiah McGrath), Charli Parcs (Ned Curtis) and Verdana Blue (Davy Russell).

Leading contenders also include Peter Atkinson's prolific mare Irish Roe, Kayley Woollacott's Lalor and Amy Murphy's stable star Kalashnikov.

The two reserves are the Kerry Lee-trained Magic Dancer and Maquisard from Gary Moore's yard.