Vaniteux headlines 57 entries for the £100,000 Grade 3 StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on the third and final day of The Open on Sunday, November 16.
The five-year-old is one of six entered by trainer Nicky Henderson and was last seen out when third to Vautour in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March.
Henderson could also rely on JCB Triumph Hurdle runner-up Kentucky Hyden, dual Newbury scorer Volnay De Thaix and the highly-regarded but fragile Hammersly Lake. Sign Of A Victory and Area Fifty One complete the Seven Barrows sextet.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has eight possibles, the most of any handler, headed by Irving. The German import looked high-class when winning a pair of Grade Two events at Ascot and Kempton Park last season but disappointed when ninth behind Vautour at Cheltenham.
Also among the Nicholls’ contingent are Calipto, who was touched off by Tiger Roll in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at The Showcase on October 18, Vibrato Valtat and Katgary.
Hawk High, trained by Tim Easterby and owned by Trevor Hemmings, held off Katgary by three quarters of a length in an eventful finish to the Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at The Festival.
The son of High Chaparral was only 10th on his final outing last season in Aintree’s Grade One Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle, but made a successful reappearance in a valuable handicap hurdle at the same course on October 25. He won by a length and three quarters from Eagle Rock (Tom Tate) with Garde La Victoire (Philip Hobbs) back in third.
Easterby said: “I have entered Hawk High in the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle and it is something we will consider. There is also an intermediate hurdle that he could go for.
“He has come out of the weekend in great form. It was a good performance and he was a big enough price, but I thought he would run well.
“The handicapper has put him up 8lb for winning a length and three quarters, which I thought was a bit harsh. He is a lovely horse though and one to look forward to.”
David Pipe took the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle with Dell’ Arca in 2013 and has two contenders this year. The pair are decisive Grade Three Imperial Cup winner Baltimore Rock, who also came home second in Grade Two company at Aintree, and talented mare Swing Bowler.
Get Me Out Of Here, four times a runner-up at The Festival, and recent Wetherby winner Goodwood Mirage are the possible representatives for Jonjo O’Neill, while Alan King has entered on Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle third Montbazon and the progressive Lazer Blazer.
There are 11 entries from Ireland, including five from the stable of champion trainer Willie Mullins. The Closutton handler has put in Wicklow Brave, who looked exciting prior to disappointing at the spring festivals, recent Irish November Handicap victor Clondaw Warrior and the Susannah Ricci-owned Daneking.
Gordon Elliott has entered Coral Cup third Bayan and Taglietelle, while Tony Martin’s pair feature improving four-year-old Cassells Rock, who was second in a valuable handicap on Irish Champions Weekend.
2012 Stan James Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby (Harry Fry) is also engaged along with impressive 888sport Hurdle victor Exitas (Philip Middleton) and Olofi (Tom George), who took the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle spoils in 2012.
Broughton is one of six entries for John Ferguson, while other notables include 2012 Weatherbys Champion Bumper runner-up Regal Encore (Anthony Honeyball), course scorer Roman Flight (David Dennis) and Blue Heron, who took a Listed hurdle by four lengths at Kempton Park on October 19.
