Go Native features among 17 entries for next week's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the confirmation stage.

The Noel Meade-trained seven-year-old comes into the race in pursuit of a £1million bonus from betting exchange wbx.com, having already won the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.

Meade has also entered Donnas Palm and Muirhead, while Nicky Henderson could saddle three runners in last year's first and third - Punjabi and Binocular - and 2009 Triumph Hurdle hero Zaynar.

Doubts surround the participation of Solwhit after he scoped dirty earlier in the week, but the six-year-old remains in the entries for the time being.

Ebadiyan, Kargali, Jumbo Rio, Raise Your Heart, Royal And Regal and Won In The Dark are the other Irish contenders. Last year's runner-up Celestial Halo, Khyber Kim, Medermit and Starluck complete the challenge from the home team.

Philip Fenton finally quashed speculation by withdrawing Dunguib, who is red-hot favourite for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle earlier in the day.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is bullish about the chances of Khyber Kim, already twice a winner at the course this season having won the Greatwood and the Boylesports.com International.

"Khyber Kim is in tremendous form and we are very confident going into the race," said the Naunton handler.

"In my opinion, he is the forgotten horse but never mind, let's go and win. The first day of the Festival will probably be the softest ground anyway but he doesn't need soft.

"He has a lot of class and I'm very happy with him. I don't think Paddy Brennan or I would swap him for any other. In fact, I'm certain we wouldn't."