Title Holder Newmill Heads Queen Mother Sixteen

Last year's winner Newmill tops a list of 16 horses standing their ground in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

John Murphy's nine-year-old, who still holds an entry in Tuesday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, is one of three Irish possibles for the two-mile feature, with Martin Brassil confirming the mud-loving Nickname, while Eamon Sheehy has left in Justified.

Ante-post favourite is Well Chief, who was runner-up to Moscow Flyer two year's ago. David Pipe's charge missed the 2006 renewal through injury but made an impressive comeback when winning the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month.

Kevin Bishop's Ashley Brook, runner-up to Well Chief in that race, had also been sidelined until returning with victory over hurdles at Cheltenham in January.

The first three home in last year's Arkle Trophy ? Voy Por Ustedes, Monet's Garden and Foreman ? could clash again.

Paul Nicholls can choose from Sporazene and Armaturk, while Carl Llewellyn is also double-handed with Dempsey and Mister McGoldrick.

Oneway, River City, Marble Garden and Sybellius d'Artaix complete the acceptors.

The four horses to come out at the confirmation stage were Accordion Etoile, Contraband, Mansony and Tumbling Dice.

(C) PA Sport