Drever targets third World Hurdle

Inglis Drever faces 16 rivals as he bids to secure a record-setting third Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Howard Johnson's nine-year-old won the three-mile contest for the first time in 2005 before following up again last year.

My Way De Solzen, the mount of Robert Thornton, bagged the prize in Inglis Drever's absence in 2006 and he will be trying to get his season back on track having failed to win since landing the Arkle at Cheltenham last term.

Alan King also runs the Ruby Walsh-ridden Blazing Bailey in the Grade One, with David Pipe's Lough Derg and the Francois Doumen-trained Kasbah Bliss also declared.

The Dessie Hughes-trained Hardy Eustace leads the Irish charge along with Aitmatov, Sonnyanjoe, Kazal and Ebaziyan - although the latter also runs in the  Champion Hurdle.

Chief Dan George, Flight Leader, Redemption, Special Envoy, The Market Man, Wichita Lineman and Material World round out the field.