will face six rivals in the Unibet Champion Hurdle after Lossiemouth was rerouted to the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of this year’s
Festival.
Willie Mullins will rely on defending champion State Man and rank outsider Winter Fog.
Gordon Elliott’s star mare Brighterdaysahead will go up against the boys and be accompanied by stablemate King Of Kingsfield, who acted as a pacemaker for her spectacular Neville Hotels Hurdle success at Leopardstown over Christmas.
The Jeremy Scott-trained Golden Ace beat Brighterdaysahead in last year’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and will renew that rivalry.
James Owen’s two-time course winner Burdett Road completes the line-up.