Entries for the final four of the 25 contests for the Cheltenham Festival have been revealed and they include the entries for the new Grade Two David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on Friday 14 March.
There are a total of 31 entries in the extended two and a half mile contest including the Bowe family’s new star Sweet Kiln and a powerful quintet from Nicky Henderson’s stable - Amaretto Rose, Chomba Womba, Shatabdi, My Petra and Doubly Guest.
Irish-trained raiders have won 12 of the 15 runnings of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and account for 19 of the 47 entries this year including Zaarito, trained by Colm Murphy, while Willie Mullins, who has saddled five previous winners, has four entered including Apt Approach, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on February 16, and Lilywhitedancer.
The home team includes the David Pipe-trained Big Eared Fran, who was sold after winning his only start for trainer Tor Sturgis, and Gold Award, who looks set to be the Queen’s first ever Festival runner (see below).
The four-mile Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase has a new title this year to celebrate the 90th birthday of 'The Voice Of Racing.' There are 56 entries, including 18 from Ireland while the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase has 43 entered including last year’s victor Drombeag and 10 from Ireland, among them the rapidly improving Agus A Vic.
