The entries for the the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the new Trull House Stud Mares' Novices Hurdle and the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival have been released.
The £60,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Wednesday, March 16th, is run as a conditions race for the first time at the festival, having previously been a handicap. A total 25 entries for the unique contest over three and three quarter miles include Balthazar King (Philip Hobbs), who was successful in 2012 and 2014.
Irish trainers have been responsible for nine of the 11 winners of the race and 15 Irish-trained entries for this year's race include Josies Orders (Enda Bolger), who has taken both of the Cross Country Chases at Cheltenham so far this season, and recent Irish Gold Cup fourth Foxrock (Ted Walsh).
Wednesday also features the £70,000 Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, which has attracted 32 entries. The championship contest has been dominated by Irish-trained horses as well, with Irish handlers having sent out 17 of the 23 winners. Willie Mullins has engaged 10 horses as he bids for a ninth victory in the race, including Navan Listed bumper scorer Augusta Kate, while champion Flat trainer Aidan O'Brien may aim for his first festival win in 16 years with Aspen Colorado.
The home challenge looks set to be headed by Coeur Blimey (Susan Gardner) and Ballyandy (Nigel Twiston-Davies), who were first and second in a listed bumper at Ascot in December.
The inaugural £75,000 Grade 2 Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle is the final race on Thursday, March 17th, and 36 entries for the two mile, one furlong contest include Limini, who easily won a Grade 3 mares' novices' hurdle at Fairyhouse in January for Mullins.
Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, who own the sponsor Trull House Stud, may be represented by the Nicky Henderson-trained pair of Chocca Wocca and Robins Reef, plus Dusky Legend, from the stable of Alan King.
On The Fringe was a decisive winner of the £40,000 St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham last year and the Enda Bolger-trained 11-year-old heads 41 contenders for this year's race, which takes place on Friday, March 18th.
Paint The Clouds (Warren Greatrex), who was third last season, went on to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Bet365 Handicap Chase at Sandown Park and warmed up for this year's race with an easy victory at Doncaster on February 24th.
Other entries include Marito (Colin McBratney) and Aupcharlie (Henry de Bromhead), who fought out the finish to a point-to-point at Oldtown on February 7th, plus Pacha Du Polder (Paul Nicholls), the intended mount of Victoria Pendleton, who is due to run in the 3.20pm at Wincanton today.
A total of 1,823 entries were made for the 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016, with 601 of those trained in Ireland.
This means that 33% of the entries are Irish-trained, the second highest percentage ever, following on from the 34.35% last year when there were 647 Irish entries out of 1,884.
GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
£60,000. Cheltenham, 4.10pm, Wednesday, March 16th. 3m 6f 37yds. Maximum 16 runners.
Horse Age Owner Trainer
ANY CURRENCY (IRE) 13 Cash Is King Martin Keighley
ASTIGOS (FR) 9 A Brooks Venetia Williams
BALLYBOKER BRIDGE (IRE) 9 Ms H T Clarke McKeon Peter Maher IRE
BALTHAZAR KING (IRE) 12 The Brushmakers Philip Hobbs
BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 11 Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor Gordon Elliott IRE
BOXING ALONG (IRE) 12 L Halley Vincent Halley IRE
CANTLOW (IRE) 11 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
CURRENT EXCHANGE (IRE) 11 Kaniz Bloodstock Investments Ltd Gordon Elliott IRE
DOLATULO (FR) 9 Chasemore Farm Warren Greatrex
FOXROCK (IRE) 8 Barry Connell Ted Walsh IRE
JOSIES ORDERS (IRE) 8 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
LOVE RORY (IRE) 8 Exors of the Late E Kavanagh Enda Bolger IRE
MERLIN'S WISH 11 Miss R Toppin Martin Keighley
MTADA SUPREME (IRE) 11 Mrs B Beattie Peter Maher IRE
PINEROLO 10 Golden Syndicate & Partner Joanne Foster
PROSPERITY SQUARE (IRE) 11 Owen Curtin Conor O'Dwyer IRE
QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 11 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
RIVAGE D'OR (FR) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE
ROSSVOSS 8 D F Desmond Ted Walsh IRE
SIRE COLLONGES (FR) 10 Mrs Angela Tincknell & W Tincknell Paul Nicholls
SPRING HEELED (IRE) 9 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE
THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 9 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard
UNCLE JUNIOR (IRE) 15 Luke McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
UTAH DE LA COQUAIS (FR) 8 Joel Chaineau Eric Leray FR
VALADOM (FR) 7 Richard Hobson Richard Hobson
25 entries
15 Irish-trained, 1 French-trained
WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER
Grade 1, £70,000. 5.30pm, Wednesday, March 16th. 2m 87yds. Max 24 runners.
Horse Age Owner Trainer
ANY DRAMA (IRE) 5 Nicholas Cooper Harry Fry
ASPEN COLORADO (IRE) 4 J P McManus Aidan O'Brien IRE
AUGUSTA KATE 5 The Masters Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
AUGUSTIN (FR) 6 Luke McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
AVENIR D'UNE VIE (FR) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
BACARDYS (FR) 5 Shanakiel Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
BALLYANDY 5 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
BALLYMALIN (IRE) 6 Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
BATTLEFORD 5 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE
BLOW BY BLOW (IRE) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
CASTELLO SFORZA (IRE) 5 J P McManus Willie Mullins IRE
COEUR BLIMEY (IRE) 5 Keith Harris Susan Gardner
COMPADRE (IRE) 5 Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor Jonjo O'Neill
CRIQ ROCK (FR) 5 The Trouble Partnership Alan King
DRUID'S FOLLY (IRE) 6 C R Trembath Rebecca Curtis
FIRST FIGARO (GER) 6 Bellamy Syndicate Dermot Weld IRE
GEORDIE DES CHAMPS (IRE) 5 Trembath, Outhart, Moran & Costelloe Rebecca Curtis
GOOD THYNE TARA 6 Nigel King Willie Mullins IRE
HIGH BRIDGE 5 Bloomfields John Ferguson
JAM SESSION (IRE) 4 Michael H Watt Ian Williams
JOT'EM DOWN (IRE) 5 Simon Hunt David Bridgwater
KING UTHER 6 Anthony Ward-Thomas Chris Gordon
NEW TO THIS TOWN (IRE) 5 New To This Town Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE
ONTHEWESTERNFRONT (IRE) 6 Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor Jonjo O'Neill
PRIDE OF LECALE 5 Paul & Clare Rooney Fergal O'Brien
RATHER BE (IRE) 5 Matt & Lauren Morgan Nicky Henderson
SPIRIT OF KAYF 5 Sprayclad UK Sandy Thomson
TURCAGUA (FR) 6 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
UTILITY (GER) 5 Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor Jonjo O'Neill
VERY MUCH SO (IRE) 6 Supreme Horse Racing Club/Brett Graham Willie Mullins IRE
WESTEND STORY (IRE) 5 Mick Fitzgerald Racing Club Philip Hobbs
WINSOME BUCKS (IRE) 6 Robert Sinclair Tom Hogan IRE
32 entries
14 Irish-trained
TRULL HOUSE STUD MARES' NOVICE HURDLE
Grade 2, £75,000. 5.30pm, Thursday, March 17th. 2m 179yds. Max 22 runners.
Horse Age Owner Trainer
ACTINPIECES 5 Pam Sly Pam Sly
APPLE'S JADE (FR) 4 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
AWESOME ROSIE 5 Mrs Meacham, Withyslade & Mrs A L Davies Alan King
BANTAM (IRE) 6 Brooke Kelly Partnership Henry Daly
BLOODY MARY (FR) 5 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
BUCHE DE NOEL (FR) 5 David Brownlow Jamie Snowden
BUTTERCUP (FR) 5 Boultbee Brooks Ltd Venetia Williams
CHOCCA WOCCA 6 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson
DANIELLE'S JOURNEY 6 Realta Horseracing Club Stuart Crawford IRE
DUSKY LEGEND 6 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Alan King
ELUSIVE IVY (IRE) 6 E Waters Gavin Cromwell IRE
GIRLY GIRL (IRE) 7 T Crowe Dan Skelton
HOLLIES PEARL 6 Roy Swinburne Peter Bowen
HOPE'S WISHES 6 M J Hills Barry Brennan
JAUNE ET BLEUE (FR) 4 Favourites Racing Ltd David Dennis
JER'S GIRL (IRE) 4 E Bourke Gavin Cromwell IRE
KATIE TOO (IRE) 5 Mr & Mrs Christopher Harris Alan King
LA PAIMPOLAISE (FR) 4 Mark Albon & Chris Stedman Gary Moore
LIMINI (IRE) 5 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
MISS SERIOUS (IRE) 6 Pillhead House Partners Jeremy Scott
MONBEG ROSE (IRE) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE
MOZO 5 Robin Geffen David Pipe
MYSKA (IRE) 6 Supreme Horse Racing Club Willie Mullins IRE
MYZTIQUE (IRE) 6 Ms M Mckenna Gordon Elliott IRE
OMESSA HAS (FR) 4 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
RIA D'ETEL (FR) 4 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE
ROBINS REEF (IRE) 6 Kelvin-Hughes & Bartlett Nicky Henderson
RUBY RAMBLER 6 Sara Dennis, J Wadham & J Wilson Lucy Wadham
SMART TALK (IRE) 6 Mrs J A Martin Brian Ellison
SUNSHINE CORNER (IRE) 5 P A Philipps & Mrs G J Redman Lucy Wadham
TARA FLOW 6 Kate & Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
TEA IN TRANSVAAL (IRE) 5 M J Haines Evan Williams
TOCORORO (IRE) 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
WATER SPRITE (IRE) 5 Five Men Syndicate Gordon Elliott IRE
WHISTLE DIXIE (IRE) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
WHY WAIT (FR) 4 Jean-Yves Artu Jean-Yves Artu FR
36 entries
12 Irish-trained, 1 French-trained
ST JAMES'S PLACE FOXHUNTER CHASE
£40,000 total prize fund. 4.10pm, Friday, March 18th. 3m 2f 70yds. Max 24 runners.
Horse Age Owner Trainer
ACE HIGH 12 Janet Ackner Janet Ackner
ALSKAMATIC 10 The Plantation Picnic Club Richard Bandey
ANSEANACHAI CLISTE (IRE) 8 Michael McConville Stephen McConville IRE
AUPCHARLIE (IRE) 10 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
BEGGAR'S VELVET (IRE) 10 James R Adams Drew Holmes
BRACKLOON HIGH (IRE) 11 M H D Barlow Michael Kehoe
CAMDEN (IRE) 10 Sarah Easterby Sarah Easterby
CARSONSTOWN BOY (IRE) 12 J T Monaghan Colin McBratney IRE
CAVE HUNTER (IRE) 9 Niel Manning Wendy Hamilton
CHAPOTURGEON (FR) 12 The Jack Barber Racing Club Jack Barber
CHOSEN DREAM (IRE) 8 Mrs M E Hagan Graham McKeever IRE
CLANCY STRAND (NZ) 11 N O'Rourke Niall Madden IRE
CONSIGLIERE (FR) 13 Alan Hill Alan Hill
CURRENT EVENT (FR) 9 Pearl Bloodstock Ltd Rose Loxton
CURRENT EXCHANGE (IRE) 11 Kaniz Bloodstock Investments Ltd Gordon Elliott IRE
DARK LOVER (GER) 11 The Dark Lovers Jamie Snowden
GOOD EGG (IRE) 13 Rippon, Wertheimer & Wills Sarah Rippon
HIGHLY UNLIKELY (IRE) 10 Four Seasons Partnership Charlotte Evans
IMPACT AREA (IRE) 10 Harriet Waight Harriet Waight
INDIANA BAY (IRE) 9 Leslie, Cowling & Furse Jill Dennis
IT CAME TO PASS (IRE) 6 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE
JOIN TOGETHER (IRE) 11 Ian & Wendy Fogg Rose Loxton
LUSKA LAD (IRE) 12 Paddy & Sean Syndicate John Hanlon IRE
MAJOR MALARKEY (IRE) 13 Baker Dodd & Cooke Nigel Twiston-Davies
MARITO (GER) 10 James Marley/Samuel Downey Colin McBratney IRE
MENDIP EXPRESS (IRE) 10 David Maxwell Racing Limited Philip Hobbs
MR MERCURIAL (IRE) 8 David Rogers Sheila Crow
NEED TO KNOW (IRE) 8 Marie Brennan/Colm Hearne John Paul Brennan IRE
NIGHT ALLIANCE (IRE) 11 Peter Philips Peter Philips
ON THE FRINGE (IRE) 11 J P McManus Enda Bolger IRE
PACHA DU POLDER (FR) 9 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
PAINT THE CLOUDS 11 Peter Deal & Jill & Robin Eynon Warren Greatrex
PALYPSO DE CREEK (FR) 13 Michael Dawson Michael Dawson
PARKAM JACK 10 J F Symes Kayley Woollacott
PEARLYSTEPS 13 The Glazeley Partnership Henry Daly
PENA DORADA (IRE) 9 Alan Brown Alan Brown
RICHMOND (FR) 11 Miss L M Turner Philip Turner
SCHINDLER'S PRINCE (IRE) 11 Alastair McLeish James Ridley
TEMPLE GRANDIN (IRE) 9 Philip Rowley Philip Rowley
TWIRLING MAGNET (IRE) 10 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
YOUNG HURRICANE (IRE) 10 C Helfferich Guy Brewer
41 entries
11 Irish-trained
LOTS MORE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND