Awesome Altior spearheads confirmations for Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham Festival

Altior heads 15 horses to have stood their ground for the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday following the confirmation stage.Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old landed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on the opening card 12 months ago and has won all of his four starts over fences this season in the style of a top-drawer prospect.Henderson is also represented by Top Notch, who is more likely to run in the JLT Novices' Chase on Thursday week.The Kim Bailey-trained Charbel was runner-up to Altior in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December and is set to renew rivalry with the hot favourite.Willie Mullins has left in Royal Caviar and Yorkhill, though both also hold entries in the JLT, while Henry de Bromhead has Ordinary World, Some Plan and Three Stars from his team.Completing the list of possibles are A Hare Breath, Cloudy Dream, Flying Angel, Forest Bihan, Gino Trail, Knockgraffon and Le Prezien.