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Go Native will bid to join millionaires row by justifying favouritism in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Eleven rivals, including last year's winner Punjabi, stand in the seven-year-old's path to landing the WBX.com £1m bonus for connections, should he add the Grade One event to earlier successes this season in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Trainer Noel Meade remains unusually bullish and quipped: "Go Native is my one in a million... he is at the moment, anyway! We'll give it our best shot. Cheltenham hasn't always been kind, but hopefully he can make up for the disappointments. He is in really great form and I hope he runs as well as he has earlier this season."

Meade added: "I couldn't have him any better and I've been very pleased with him. Hopefully he can succeed where Harchibald narrowly failed."

Davy Condon rode Go Native to victory at Newcastle and Kempton, but number one stable jockey Paul Carberry, who won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on him here last season, renews the partnership. He missed both previous races when serving a 30-day ban for failing an alcohol breath test at Naas in October.

Meade said: "Paul knows him well and he doesn't do pressure. He doesn't know the meaning of the word. He's as cool as a cucumber and he'll be fine. It's a competitive race and they will go a good clip, but the quicker they go the better for us. Harchibald didn't have the speed that Go Native has."

Alan Fleming's Starluck was runner-up to Go Native in the Christmas Hurdle and showed his well-being with victory on the all-weather at Kempton two weeks ago.

"He's very well and we're nearly there now. Hopefully he'll perform as good as he can," said the Dorking trainer.

"We were really happy with his prep race at Kempton and the horse is ready so hopefully all goes well. A smallish field will suit him. It's easier to ride horses off the pace when there's a smaller field and there's sure to be plenty of pace on. We just need a bit of luck."

Khyber Kim is reported to be in tremendous form as he bids to land his third course win of the season in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge has really hit top gear this campaign, taking the Greatwood and Boylesports International Hurdles in great style.

"He's absolutely great and I couldn't be happier with him. All the others seems to have had small problems but he hasn't and he's in great nick," Twiston-Davies told At The Races.

"In the past seasons he's run well first time and lost his way. He ran well first time when he won, then three weeks later he ran even better, both at Cheltenham. He's in great nick and that's all past him. We've brought him here nice and fresh and as well as we can ever imagine."

Nicky Henderson is fearful of the challenge posed by Khyber Kim - despite playing a three-strong hand with Punjabi, Zaynar and Binocular - and said: "Khyber Kim is the horse I am most afraid of. I used to have him as a novice and Mick Fitzgerald said he could win a Champion Hurdle and an Ascot Gold Cup as he is that good.

"Punjabi might lack sex appeal, but he has won the race before and wears a crown that says Champion Hurdle on it. Last year he was thumped in the Kingwell coming into the race, whereas this time he could not have had a better prep."

Barry Geraghty remains loyal to Punjabi, with Andrew Tinkler aboard last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Zaynar, who was turned over at long odds-on in his warm-up for the Festival.

Henderson went on: "He was beaten at 1-14 at Kelso but he hated the ground that day and was in need of the run. It wasn't an ideal preparation, but I am glad we ran him and I have been happy with him at home since."

Binocular was ruled out of this year's renewal at the end of February but a series of veterinary tests found nothing wrong and the JP McManus-owned six-year-old came back into the frame when working under Tony McCoy last week.

His trainer added: "I said he wasn't going to run but is back now and the key to him is his hurdling. He schooled 12 hurdles last Wednesday and he looked like the old Binocular, he was very, very quick - like an Olympic athlete. I think Binocular will win a Champion Hurdle one year, but I don't know which."

Alan King hopes the decision to postpone a chasing campaign for Medermit pays dividends in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The grey has been something of a surprise package this season and lowered the colours of current champion Punjabi on his last start at Haydock. He was just touched off in the Supreme 12 months ago and his trainer expects another bold show.

"Everything has gone well, just as we wished, he's in good order and I'm looking forward to it. This time last year I thought we'd be taking him there for the Arkle but I've been pleasantly surprised by the way he has progressed," said King.

"The handicapper is saying he has improved with each run because each time he has raised him. It puts him well in the mix and I don't think there is an outstanding horse amongst them.

"There are several very good horses though and I think we are in for a very exciting Champion Hurdle, there is only a few pounds between the top eight or nine.

Won In The Dark was only 10th 12 months ago but had finished third in the Triumph the previous season. He goes to Cheltenham on the back of two confidence-boosting wins last month at Punchestown and Leopardstown.

"He's very well and we're happy to see the ground drying out," said County Kildare trainer Sabrina Harty.

"Those two wins will have done his confidence the world of good, he'd been running on terrible ground and he seems to have come right again.

"He's bound to be stronger this year. The ground was terrible for him in the Champion last year and it wasn't that much better in the Triumph.

"He loves good ground so hopefully this is the best ground we'd had for him in two years."

Jockey Brian O'Connell has described Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle hotpot Dunguib as a "once in a lifetime horse" ahead of the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival.

O'Connell was in the saddle for Dunguib's ultra-impressive Champion Bumper success 12 months ago when he was still an amateur, but turned professional before his mount won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in December.

"I only turned pro this season and to be riding him, well, he's a once in a lifetime horse, you could spend your whole career looking for a horse like this. I have had a few outside rides this season, but Dunguib winning would certainly be a big boost to my career," said O'Connell.

"The nerves are OK at the moment. It helps that I've ridden him in all of his races, I ride him out at home so I know him very well. The experience of last year in the bumper can only help him and the fact that he is a year older, too.

"He feels a bit stronger this year. He's seven now so he's probably done all his growing, but he has maybe matured a bit. I'm sure there'll be plenty of excitement there with it being the first race and he can get worked up, but being over there last year must help him so I think he'll be OK."

Trainer Philip Fenton has been pleased with his pride and joy in the run up to the race and said: "Everything has gone just fine with him. We've kept him away from the track on purpose because he is a bit excitable, we've had him stabled at Jim Wilson's.

"He did his final half-speed on Thursday and of course it is very exciting to be heading to the first race of the meeting with the hot favourite. We've not had the slightest little problem with him, we wouldn't have declared him otherwise, no setbacks or anything."

Dunguib will face 17 rivals, with the most notable withdrawals at the declaration stage being Bellvano, Peddlers Cross and Rite Of Passage, with all three having other options. With Dunguib such a short price=, there are some fancy prices for some highly-regarded youngsters, and Oscar Whisky falls into that bracket.

"He has a lot of ability but probably lacks experience," said trainer Nicky Henderson. "He is a bonny sort of horse who goes about his business really professionally. He won very easily at Sandown last time and I think he has a very realistic chance.

"It takes a good novice to win the totesport Trophy so you have to respect Get Me Out Of Here and I think Dunguib has scared a lot off to the two-and-a-half-mile race (Neptune Investment). If there is any chink in Dunguib then it is an open race and I remember a 1-14 favourite (Zaynar) who got beaten recently, so it can happen!"

Jonjo O'Neill is not afraid to take Dunguib on with Get Me Out Of Here in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old is unbeaten in four starts over hurdles and looked very classy when beating seasoned handicappers in the totesport Trophy at Newbury.

O'Neill said: "Dunguib is an exceptional horse. People keep knocking his jumping, but he still keeps winning and he gets from A to B. We need to improve again to win, but you can't be afraid of one horse. If we have a good run though and all goes to plan then I think he will put up a good show."

The trainer continued: "The ground is lovely and there will no excuses on that front. It is good safe ground and I am looking forward to getting going.

"He had a cut after the totesport Trophy, but that is all healed up now as you would have hoped it would. We did have the option of running in the longer race, but he has never been beaten at two miles so why try anything different?

"He has done all of his winning on flat tracks which is something to think about, but he is a good-moving horse so you would like to think he will handle the undulations."

Dual bumper winner Dan Breen is thrown in at the deep end after making a winning debut over hurdles at Doncaster last month. However, his trainer David Pipe believes the unexposed five-year-old is no forlorn hope.

"He's in good form, he hasn't done anything wrong. He was impressive last time at Doncaster and the form's been franked. He jumped and travelled very well that day," said Pipe. "Obviously he's got to improve again to be involved in the finish, but he's a lively outsider."

Henry de Bromhead is happy with Sizing Europe ahead of the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old goes to the Festival with an unbeaten record in four runs over fences, culminating in a Grade One contest at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

"We're pleased with how he travelled over and he seems in great form. It looks a really good and competitive race. Hopefully he'll run well and give a good account of himself. The ground is absolutely lovely, they've done a great job on it," said the County Waterford trainer.

Sizing Europe is one of a six-strong Irish contingent among a final field of 12 declared for the two-mile novice chase championship. Willie Mullins runs both Quiscover Fontaine and Sports Line, his brother Tom has Fosters Cross, while Eddie Harty's Captain Cee Bee and Osana complete the team.

The home brigade is headed by Henrietta Knight's Somersby and Nicky Henderson's pair of Mad Max and Riverside Theatre. The latter has won both his starts over fences to date and arrives at Prestbury Park with strong claims.

"All has gone well with him. He is a very athletic horse and he loves being fresh," said Henderson. "It is a fine line between being fit and being fresh but when he is fresh he is very good and good ground will suit him well.

"I know JP McManus and all of the boys are sweet on Captain Cee Bee but we are competitive and I wouldn't throw Mad Max out. We will make use of him and I can see him running well."

Paul Nicholls runs Woolcombe Folly, winner of his last five races but only one of those has been over fences. He was the unfortunate horse that ruled Sam Thomas out of the Festival after a fall when schooling last week.

"I have had this race in mind since Doncaster, although he does lack a bit of experience," said Nicholls. "He jumped great at Doncaster and if the ground stays dry then he would have an outside chance but we have all got to go to beat Captain Cee Bee. He looks rock-solid and I could see Riverside Theatre going close too."

Emma Lavelle's Kangaroo Court and I'm Delilah from Ferdy Murphy's stable round out the field.

Captain Cee Bee bids for his second Cheltenham Festival success when he goes to post for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

Eddie Harty's nine-year-old won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle two years ago and although he missed last season through injury, he has returned with all of his ability intact, winning twice and falling at the last when holding every chance in a Grade One at Christmas.

"Everything is fine, the horse is in great form and we are all set. The weather has gone right for him and the ground looks perfect, you can't ask for better than that," said Harty.

"He did his last proper workout eight days ago with some good exercise in between. He got here on Saturday, he travelled well and looks like he is looking forward to it - he's well keyed up for it."

Willie Mullins is slightly concerned that the excitable Sports Line has come to life since arriving at Cheltenham. Second in the Irish Arkle on his last start, he is likely to test Ruby Walsh's skills to the limit.

"Though he has travelled well, he now seems a bit geed up so we will have to see what bearing that has on his performance," said Mullins. "He does seem to be excited by the whole thing but he does tend to get a bit wound up."

Somersby has been kept under wraps at home since landing the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown three months ago. He has yet to taste defeat in two starts over fences and has pleased trainer Henrietta Knight in the build-up.

"He's done everything right at home since Sandown and we haven't got any complaints. He's very well, so we'll just keep our fingers crossed," said the Wantage trainer. "It's a very hot race and it will be a very good race. A clear round will count for a lot so I just hope we are lucky."

Robert Thornton gets the mount as Tony McCoy, who rode Somersby at Sandown, is claimed by owner JP McManus for Captain Cee Bee.

"We're very happy with the jockey. He's sat on him a number of times and they get on well. He knows him," added Knight.

Enda Bolger is responsible for five of the 16 runners as he seeks to continue his dominance of the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

The County Limerick trainer has won four of the five runnings of the cross-country event and both Garde Champetre, successful the last two seasons, and 2007 winner Heads Onthe Ground are among his and owner JP McManus's quintet.

"They are all in good nick. They travelled over grand, we're delighted with them and the ground will suit us. They like the dry ground," said Bolger.

"Garde Champetre did it last season with top weight so there's no reason why he can't do it again, but there's Monkerhostin there this time and a couple of Irish horses in there too.

"L'Ami actually ran better than Garde Champetre in their hurdle prep races. He was only beaten nine lengths by Rite Of Passage so JT (McNamara) definitely wouldn't swap him at this stage. It would be great to win it again."

Henry de Bromhead hopes to break Bolger's monopoly with Sizing Australia, who has finished second and third behind Garde Champetre over the course and distance already this season.

"Sizing Australia is in good form. I'm very pleased with him and I'm looking forward to running him," said the County Waterford handler.

"Obviously Enda's got a real stranglehold on the race so we'll try to do our best and see how we get on."

Colm Murphy arrived in Cheltenham early on Monday to soak up the atmosphere as he prepares prolific winner Voler La Vedette for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.

Murphy has tasted Festival success twice before as Brave Inca landed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2004 and the Champion Hurdle two years later. He elected to bypass the latter race with Voler La Vedette and the six-year-old will instead clash with Willie Mullins' Quevega in the concluding event on day one of the meeting.

Murphy's mare is unbeaten in four runs this season and claimed the scalp of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native last November. Her trainer said: "It is good to be back here but I have just arrived so haven't had a chance to look at the ground. She took the journey well and has had a nice break since Christmas."

A field of 17 will go to post for the Grade Two event, which on paper appears to be a match between Voler La Vedette and last year's 14-length winner Quevega.

The six-year-old went on to finish third in the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown but has not raced since picking up an injury in France last May.

Mullins commented: "She came here with a good chance last year but hasn't had a prep run this time so there has to be a big question mark there."

Nigel Twiston-Davies advises punters not to discount Amber Brook simply because of her disappointing run last time.

"Amber Brook has very much been forgotten, she's a very long price," the Naunton trainer told At The Races.

"She broke a blood vessel last time at Doncaster and everyone has forgotten her because of that. She's a handy price. She'd not done it before, she's not done it at home since and I don't think she'll do it again. She did it very early on when she wasn't really under any race pressure. I'd be happy that she'd be OK."

Master Minded faces eight rivals as he bids to emulate Badsworth Boy with a third successive victory in Wednesday's Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Paul Nicholls' charge routed the Cheltenham field in 2008 and while he had to work a little harder for a second win last year, he still had seven lengths in hand over Well Chief. That David Pipe-trained rival is back for more, while Nicholls also saddles Twist Magic, who fell at the second-last fence last year.

Last year's Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer takes his chance for Tom Cooper, as does Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King, who was beaten just a short head in the novice event. Willie Mullins sends Golden Silver while Big Zeb, who also crashed out in last year's renewal, has been declared by Colm Murphy.

Alan King's Oh Crick and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Mahogany Blaze complete the line-up.