16 left in Champion Chase

A total of 16 horses are still in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday after today`s confirmation stage, headed by the 2000 winner Edredon Bleu.

Tony McCoy will be renewing his acquaintance with Henrietta Knight`s star having partnered the gelding when he finished second to Flagship Uberalles at Sandown Park on his most recent start in December.

The champion jockey was also on board when Edredon Bleu defeated Direct Route by a short head in the 2000 renewal of the Queen Mother.

Tiutchev still figures among the entries after a bout of colic put his participation in Wednesday`s two-mile championship in doubt.

The 2000 Arkle Challenge Trophy winner, who almost died of the illness last summer, was treated at the Royal Veterinary College in Potters Bar after his latest attack.

Trainer Nicky Henderson is hoping to get the nine-year-old ready in time for Wednesday`s race.

Like Edredon Bleu, Flagship Uberalles has not raced since they met in December and connections will hoping the Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old improves on his third to Edredon Bleu in the Queen Mother two years ago.

Irish challenger Native Upmanship drops back in trip on Wednesday after scoring over two and a half miles at Thurles in January.

Michael O`Brien`s Knife Edge is the other Irish hope and big-race jockey Paul Carberry partnered the seven-year-old in a schooling session this morning.

'He`s fine - everything is fine. His preparation has been good,' reported O`Brien today.

Knife Edge has shown his best form on an easy surface.

However, the ground is drying out at Cheltenham and O`Brien added: 'I don`t know about conditions as we`ve never run Knife Edge when he was right when the ground was fast. He`s a Flat-bred horse and should handle it. I don`t think there should be any problem.'

Malton trainer Brian Ellison, who runs fast-ground specialist Latalomne, is hoping officials at Cheltenham do not water the course ahead of the Stg£220,000 contest.

He said: 'I`m encouraged by the dry weather but I`m not encouraged by the thought of watering. They don`t want to be touching it with water.'

Ellison believes Latalomne - a best-priced 14-1 chance - will not be disgraced in Wednesday`s classy line-up.

'I think he has a great chance,' he enthused. 'On fast ground he`s a good horse. He`s got speed to burn, stays, travels and jumps and that`s what you`ve got to do so long as you don`t make any mistakes but if he sees plenty of daylight he should be all right.

'He travels at speed and quickens.'