Eustace tops Champion field

Hardy Eustace will face 17 rivals as he bids for a third Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Dessie Hughes’ nine-year-old will be trying to bounce back from a disappointing run last time and become only the sixth horse to land the race three times, following on from Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq.