Native leads Champion dozen

GO NATIVE will face 11 rivals as he bids to secure a £1m bonus in tomorrow’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Noel Meade’s charge is seeking the bumper payout after winning both the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdles this term, with betting firm WBX.com putting up the extra prize for completing the hat-trick.

Fellow Irish raider Solwhit is his main market rival and he has been declared by trainer Charles Byrnes despite suffering a minor setback over the last week.