But with Geraghty likely to be on Macs Joy in the Champion, McCoy, who has 15 Festival wins to his name, has been offered the ride on the progressive five-year-old.

“It looks like at the moment that Tony McCoy is going to ride him,” O’Brien told At The Races. “They’ve just called me this morning to say he was available.

"I had originally called him a couple of weeks ago, when it looked like he wasn’t going to have a ride, and offered him the ride on Essex because I knew Barry wouldn’t be getting off Macs Joy.”

Essex was clipped a point into 9-1 by William Hill for Cheltenham but O’Brien believes his charge will need to progress again to land the hurdlers’ crown.

Assessing Essex’s Champion Hurdle chances, O’Brien said: “It’s very difficult to say but looking at the way he’s going up in the handicap we didn’t really have any other option.

“It just depends if he can make just a bit more improvement. I think he probably has to make 8lb or 10lb.

“He’s improved with every run but can he step up again? That’s the big question.”

A total of 21 horses remain in the March 15 highlight after the latest forfeit stage headed by last year’s winner Hardy Eustace.

Dessie Hughes’ reigning title holder and Essex are two of a powerful nine-strong Irish contingent.

The first seven in the betting are all trained in Ireland. The others are Harchibald, Back In Front, Brave Inca, Macs Joy and Accordion Etoile.

Back In front and Harchibald share favouritism at 7-2 with William Hill and after sustained support Hardy Eustace is hot on their heels having been backed into 4-1 from 11-2.

Colm Murphy reports last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Brave Inca in good shape ahead of his big test in the Champion.

The seven-year-old was beaten a short head by Macs Joy, despite a bad mistake at the third flight, in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

Rooster Booster, who was champion in 2003 and second 12 months ago, and Inglis Drever are the leading British hopes but they are priced at around 16-1 and 20-1 respectively.

The 14 horses withdrawn were Ansar, Big Moment, Cerium, Compton Bolter, Copeland, Foreman, Georges Girl, Ilnamar, Marcel, Perouse, Rigmarole, Sign Of The Wolf, Solerina, The French Furze.

Smurfit Champion Hurdle betting:

William Hill: 7-2 Back in Front, Harchibald, 4-1 Hardy Eustace, 8-1 Brave Inca, 9-1 Essex, Macs Joy, 14-1 Accordion Etoile, 16-1 Rooster Booster, 20-1 Inglis Drever, 33-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 7-2 Harchibald, 4-1 Back In Front, 9-2 Hardy Eustace, 7-1 Brave Inca, 8-1 Macs Joy, 9-1 Essex, 10-1 Accordion Etoile, 16-1 Rooster Booster, Inglis Drever, 25-1 bar.