Nicky Henderson’s Iberico Lord was a surprise supplementary entry in next week’s Champion Hurdle.
He will join stablemate Luccia as the two representatives from Seven Barrows, following the withdrawal of Constitution Hill on Monday.
Owned by JP McManus, the six-year-old won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on seasonal reappearance and bounced back from a disappointing performance at Ascot to take the Betfair Hurdle. He remains lightly raced with only seven outings over hurdles and the Champion Hurdle will mark a first step into Grade 1 company.
In a statement on social media platform 'X', Henderson announced the decision: "We have decided to supplement Iberico Lord this morning for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
"He is obviously a very progressive young hurdler that keeps improving having won both the Greatwood and the Betfair handicaps. He loves soft ground which it seems that it might well be on Tuesday and therefore possibly not so soft on Friday when he was originally intended to run in the County.
"Obviously with the unfortunate defection of Constitution Hill, the race has a different complexion and so he is due to join Luccia in the line-up."
