Leading ante-post fancies Ghizao and Finian's Rainbow are amongst 34 horses entered for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Finian's Rainbow, who has won both starts at Newbury this season, is one of five entries from trainer Nicky Henderson. The Seven Barrows handler, who has won the race three times, could also be represented by French imports Surfing and Nadiya De La Vega with Bellvano and Giorgio Quercus completing the quintet.

Henderson said: "He (Finian's Rainbow) will have another race before Cheltenham but we're inconvenienced that the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick is on the same day as the Tote Gold Trophy which rules that race out for him.

"It's the obvious race but it doesn't suit the owners and the jockeys who are all at Newbury."

Paul Nicholls last won the Arkle in 2003 with the brilliant Azertyuiop and Ghizao appears to represent his best chance of a repeat having impressively beaten Captain Chris over course and distance in November before, again, getting the better of that rival at Newbury last month. Nicholls has also entered Pepe Simo, runner-up to Nadiya De La Vega at Kempton, and Robinson Collonges.

The Irish challenge is headed by Sunday's Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle one-two Realt Dubh and Noble Prince. However, Willie Mullins has handed entries to Quel Esprit and Mikael D'Haguenet as well as Blazing Tempo and Morning Supreme whilst Edward O'Grady could be represented by Torphichen.

Medermit, second in the Tigmi Travel Dipper Novices' Chase, could represent Alan King and could be joined by another high-class hurdler in Starluck who has yet to jump a fence in public.

William's Wishes, Phidippides and West With The Wind could represent Evan Williams, David Pipe has handed entries to Dan Breen and Mamlook whilst Kilmurry, Captain Chris and Rock Noir are other notable entries.