THIS week’s entries for the novice chases and hurdles at the Festival again demonstrated where the balance of power lies in the National Hunt scene.

In the Supreme Novices’, of the 64 entries, 45 are trained in Ireland. Twenty two of those are in the Willie Mullins yard. Gordon Elliott has five and last year’s winning trainer Henry de Bromhead has six with Workahead and Koktail Divin looking among the front rank of his entries.

Only Nicky Henderson and Tom George have broken the Irish monopoly in then Festival’s opener in the last 12 years.

The top seven in the betting are again trained in Ireland with top UK novices The New Lion and Potters Charm more prominent in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle betting markets.

Entries for the Turners Novice were down by seven to 79, with Mullins making 28, while 62 entries, including 36 Irish-trained, have been made for the Albert Bartlett.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle, with 54, attracted 10 more horses than last year.

Nicky Henderson trains hot favourite Lulamba and produced his expensive purchase the German Derby winner Palladium to win on Thursday. This race is his only entry whereas Lulamba is also entered in the Supreme.

Of the Mullins entries, Blue Lemons, Charlus, Larzac, Legionnaire Forez, Lumiere Du Large, Place De La Nation, Pappano and Poniros have yet to appear.

Despite the removal of the Grade 1 Turners, the Brown Advisory Novice Chase attracted 32 entries, six fewer than last year and the lowest in the last 15 years.

A total of 17 are Irish-trained but last year’s Supreme winner Slade Steel is the most notable absentee from the two novice chases.

The Arkle’s 25 runners make for a potentially exciting clash with Mullins’ 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough only in the Arkle. A meeting with Sir Gino would be one of the highlights of the first day.

Willie Mullins, who won the Brown Advisory with Fact To File last year, was responsible for 10 of the 32 entries with Ballyburn, Impaire Et Passe and Ile Atlantique in both novices.

Leading British novice The Jukebox Man is entered in both novices while Gavin Cromwell has entered his talented mare and dual chase winner Only By Night in the Arkle.

Best odds: 7/2 Salvator Mundi, 6 Romeo Coolio, 14 Kopek Des Bordes, Kaid d’Authie, Workahead, 16 Kiss Will, The New Lion, 20 Funiculi Funicula, 33 Kappa Jy Pyke, Irancy, James’s Gate, Kel Histoire, William Munny

Best odds: 4/5 Sir Gino, 3 Majborough, 8 Ile Atlantique, 14 L’Eau du Sud, 16 Ballyburn, 20 Inthepocket, The Jukebox Man, 25 Firefox, Gidleigh Park, Impaire Et Passe

Best odds: 7/2 Ballyburn, 9/2 The Jukebox Man, 6 Dancing City, 10 Lecky Watson, 12 Ile Atlantique, Impaire Et Passe, 16 Better Days Ahead, Champ Kiely, Croke Park, Jango Baie,

Best odds: 5/2 The New Lion, 7 Potters Charm 8 The Yellow Clay, 10 Kaid d’Authie, Kopek Des Bordes, 16 Final Demand, 20 Jasmin De Vaux, Funiculi Funicula, Koktail Divin

Best odds: 6/4 Lulamba, 6 East India Dock, 7 Hello Neighbour, 10 Sainte Lucie 11 Lady Vega Allen, 16 Palladium, 25 Charlus, Mondo Man, Place De La Nation, Legionnaire Forez,

Best odds: 8 The Big Westerner, The Yellow Clay, 10 Final Demand, 20 Jax Junior, Jet Blue, Mozzies Sister, Sounds Victorius, Supersundae, Wingmen,