Inglis Drever, winner of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in 2005 and 2007, could bid to become the first three-time winner of the stayers' championship.

The nine-year-old, trained by Howard Johnson, is among 41 entries revealed for the renewal at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13th.

Inglis Drever is 6 to 4 favourite with the sponsors to complete the hat-trick.

David Williams, of Ladbrokes, said: "If Inglis Drever has not yet cemented his place in Festival folklore, another victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle would certainly put that right.

"He dominates the betting, but with 41 tremendous entries, we fully expect there to be more than the occasional plunge between now and mid-March."

Among his possible rivals are Blazing Bailey, Wichita Lineman, Gaspara, Afsoun, Faasel and Redemption - who finished in that order when they were the six finishers in the a hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace is one of nine Irish-trained entries, along with the likes of Aitmatov, Al Eile and Ebaziyan, who are all also engaged in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The 2006 winner My Way De Solzen, who has been running over fences this season, has been given an entry.

Gaspara's trainer, David Pipe, has two other chances of landing a race his father, Martin, won twice in Lough Derg, a winner at Ascot last month, and Raslan.

WORLD HURDLE (Ladbrokes bet):6-4 Inglis Drever, 5-1 Wichita Lineman, 6-1 Blazing Bailey, 8-1 Hardy Eustace, 12-1 Lough Derg, 16-1 Aitmatov, My Way De Solzen, 20-1 The Market Man, 25-1 bar