Barry Geraghty will take the ride on leading Arkle Trophy hope Accordion Etoile at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday. Geraghty, who has already amassed nine winners at the festival, comes in for the mount after the seven-year-old's regular rider, John Cullen, lost his fight to be fit for the big meeting.

Cullen, who has ridden the Paul Nolan-trained gelding to seven of his eight career wins, injured his left shoulder in a fall at Thurles last month. "John has elected to give himself some more time to recover which means Barry will ride," Nolan said yesterday. "He came down to school the horse last Monday and all went went well so please God they get on well in the race.

"So far, so good. Things have gone well with his preparation and while the rain would be a negative, as long as it is good ground I am not going to complain."

All the leading fancies have stood their ground for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and appear among a total of 19 possibles for the big race on Tuesday. Hardy Eustace will bid to land his third blue riband - and his fourth consecutive win at the Festival in all - while Brave Inca will attempt to make up the one length he needs to find with the dual champion from last year's renewal.

Last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Arcalis, Jessica Harrington's Macs Joy and Tom Mullins' mare Asian Maze also feature. Andrew Balding has supplemented Kingwell Hurdle winner Briareus, while Fiepes Shuffle is set to represent Germany.

Asian Maze is unlikely to run in next week's Ladbrokes World Hurdle - with trainer Mullins eyeing a crack at the bigger race. "We are leaning towards the Champion Hurdle now and I would say she is 90 per cent certain to run in that race," Mullins said yesterday.

Following an inspection at Navan, the chase course was found to be unraceable and the three races over fences scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled. However, Horse Racing Ireland have agreed to transfer the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final to Naas on Sunday.