Europe and Sub head Champion field

Sizing Europe and defending champion Sublimity are among 17 declarations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

However there is no De Valira, the subject of recent support for the feature race on the opening day of the Festival, due to an injury picked up schooling.

Ruby Walsh had been booked for the ride on Michael O’Brien’s six-year-old and he could now switch to Willie Mullins’ Ebaziyan, last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner.

“He was schooling on Friday and he caught his hind-leg on a hurdle and he scraped himself right at the front of the hock,” said O’Brien.

“It’s a fairly nasty scrape so he won’t be running.

“You can’t give him anything for it, it is just too sore. If we had a few more days it would be fine but we don’t have enough time.

“Hopefully he’ll be ready for Punchestown and we may even consider Aintree.”

Another who did not appear among the final field was Noel Meade’s Jazz Messenger who had emerged as a doubt on Saturday.

Ireland’s champion trainer will still be represented by Harchibald, runner-up in 2005.

David Pipe’s Osana will have his first run since winning the Boylesports International, Katchit will go for Alan King while Nicky Henderson will have two runners with Afsoun and Punjabi.

Blythe Knight, Bobs Pride, Catch Me, Contraband, Farmer Brown, Kalderon, Kawagino, Salford City and Straw Bear complete the line-up.