Aidan O'Brien, best known at the festival for his handling of three-time Champion Hurdle victor Istabraq, has the warm favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with Ivanovich Gorbatov. Owned like Istabraq by J.P. McManus, the son of Montjeu won twice on the flat before making an eye-catching hurdling debut at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting under the supervision of Joseph O'Brien. There are 54 entries for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, which takes place over two miles and nearly a furlong, including 11 from Ireland, 12 from Paul Nicholls and five from race's most successful trainer, Nicky Henderson, who had the first three last year from three runners.

JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE

Grade 1, Total Prize Fund £120,000. 1.30pm, Cheltenham, Friday, March 18. New Course, two miles and one furlong (2m 179yds).

Horse Age Owner Trainer

ADRIEN DU PONT (FR) 4 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls

AKAVIT (IRE) 4 Simon Treacher Ed de Giles

ALHAMAREER (IRE) 4 S A Helaissi Paul Webber

ALLBLAK DES PLACES (FR) 4 George Creighton Willie Mullins IRE

APPLE'S JADE (FR) 4 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE

ARDAMIR (FR) 4 The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership Alan King

AZZURI 4 The Blind Squirrels Dan Skelton

BIG MCINTOSH (IRE) 4 Kilco (International) Ltd John Ryan

CALIN DES ONGRAIS (FR) 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

CLAN DES OBEAUX (FR) 4 Mr & MrsP Barber & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd Paul Nicholls

CONNETABLE (FR) 4 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls

CONSUL DE THAIX (FR) 4 J P McManus Nicky Henderson

CRIN AU VENT (FR) 4 Potensis Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls

DUKE OF MEDINA (IRE) 4 Exors of the Late H J M Webb Harry Whittington

FIXE LE KAP (FR) 4 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

FOOTPAD (FR) 4 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE

FORECAST 4 R Davies & S Baikie Martin Keighley

FRODON (FR) 4 Ian Fogg & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd Paul Nicholls

GARO DE JUILLEY (FR) 4 Ian Fogg & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd Paul Nicholls

GIBRALFARO (IRE) 4 McNeill Family Alan King

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE (GER) 4 Malcolm Denmark Mark Pitman

INDIETIR (FR) 4 Andrew Brooks Dan Skelton

INVICTUS (GER) 4 Mike and Eileen Newbould Micky Hammond

IVANOVICH GORBATOV (IRE) 4 J P McManus Aidan O'Brien IRE

JER'S GIRL (IRE) 4 E Bourke Gavin Cromwell IRE

KASAKH NOIR (FR) 4 Tim Radford Dan Skelton

KHEZERABAD (FR) 4 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

LEONCAVALLO (IRE) 4 Bloomfields John Ferguson

LET'S DANCE (FR) 4 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

LOU VERT (FR) 4 Brooks,Done,Ferguson,Kyle,Mason&Stewart Paul Nicholls

MAQUISARD (FR) 4 M Offenstadt Guy Cherel FR

OCEANE (FR) 4 McNeill Family Alan King

OMESSA HAS (FR) 4 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

OUR THOMAS (IRE) 4 Trevor Hemmings Tim Easterby

PEAK TO PEAK (IRE) 4 Potensis Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls

PILANSBERG 4 Martin Broughton & Friends 3 Paul Nicholls

PILLARD (FR) 4 Regulatory Finance Solutions Limited Jonjo O'Neill

PROTEK DES FLOS (FR) 4 Potensis Bloodstock Limited Nicky Henderson

RASHAAN (IRE) 4 Mrs T J Kidd/Mrs R Treacy Colin Kidd IRE

RIA D'ETEL (FR) 4 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE

ROMAIN DE SENAM (FR) 4 Chris Giles & Dan Macdonald Paul Nicholls

SCEAU ROYAL (FR) 4 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Alan King

SELDOM HEARD 4 A Campbell Henry Candy

SEVEN KINGDOMS (IRE) 4 Professor L P Hardwick & Partner David Dennis

SIR CHAUVELIN 4 J Fyffe Jim Goldie

ST SAVIOUR 4 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-St Saviour Philip Hobbs

TOCORORO (IRE) 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

TOMMY SILVER (FR) 4 Potensis Bloodstock Limited Paul Nicholls

VISANDI (FR) 4 Michael & John O'Flynn Jonjo O'Neill

VOIX DU REVE (FR) 4 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE

WHO DARES WINS (IRE) 4 Henry Ponsonby Alan King

WOLF OF WINDLESHAM (IRE) 4 M W Lawrence Stuart Edmunds

WOLFCATCHER (IRE) 4 Bloomfields John Ferguson

ZUBAYR (IRE) 4 P J Vogt Paul Nicholls

54 entries

11 Irish-trained

1 French-trained