Strong Irish challenge in Arkle

Hot favourite War Of Attrition is among 23 horses left in Tuesday´s Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham. There were no surprise withdrawals from the two-mile race at yesterday´s five-day stage, with Mouse Morris´s charge topping the list of acceptors.

War Of Attrition, who was second in the Supreme Novices´ Hurdle last year, is one of eight Irish-trained entries. He could be joined by Noel Meade´s pair of Watson Lake and Sir Oj, Irish Arkle winner Ulaan Baatar, Ned Kelly, Steel Band, former high-class hurdler Like-A-Butterfly and Mariah Rollins.

Martin Pipe will rely on Contraband, while his great rival Paul Nicholls also has just one entry in My Will. Philip Hobbs has left in both Lacdoudal and last year´s Triumph Hurdle winner Made In Japan, while Venetia Williams could run both Limerick Boy and Mambo De Mottes.

Almaydan, Ashley Brook, Dangerousedanmagru, Kadount, River City, Supreme Developer, The Last Cast, Town Crier and Mondul complete the confirmations.

Ante-post favourite Justified heads 30 horses confirmed at the five-day stage for the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices´ Hurdle on the same day.

The six-year-old, trained by Eamon Sheehy, has been a leading fancy for the festival opener ever since he hacked up by 14 lengths in a Grade Two event at Punchestown in January.

He is among a powerful nine-strong Irish team at this stage. The others are Akhtari, trained by Dessie Hughes, Dermot Weld´s pair Akshar and Queen Astrid, Publican from Pat Fahy´s yard, Tom Foley´s Royal Paradise, Meade´s Wild Passion, John Joseph Murphy´s Lala Nova and Barati, trained by Michael O´Brien.