Go Native on Champion countdown

Connections of Go Native are on countdown to the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, a race that could land them a cool £1million.

Noel Meade's seven-year-old was a Cheltenham Festival winner last year in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and has landed the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season to emerge as one of the favourites for the championship.

Jockey Paul Carberry told At The Races: "He's in great form. I saddled him (at Kempton) and I was pleased with him that day but I knew he'd pull himself up a bit after the last as the ground was very gluey. He's the sort of horse I love riding."

Go Native is one of a huge entry from Ireland, with 21 of the 34 possibles based at home.