Former winners Un De Sceaux and Balko des Flos are among 18 possibles in the Ryanair Chase as Thursday's six-day entries are released.
Former winners head Ryanair entries
Former winners Un De Sceaux and Balko des Flos head 18 six-day entries for the Ryanair Chase on day three at the Cheltenham Festival.
Last year's winner Balko des Flos is trained by Henry de Bromhead and could be joined by stablemates Monalee and Sub Lieutenant.
Willie Mullins has three entries as well, with Footpad and Min joining Un De Sceaux as possible runners, though all of that trio are also in the Champion Chase.
The Irish challenge is a strong one, with Road To Respect, Coney Island, The Storyteller and Tout Est Permis also in there.
Frodon heads the British runners for Paul Nicholls, who also has Politologue to call on.
Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have four entries; Footpad, Janika, Terrefort and Top Notch.
Aso, Charbel and Saint Calvados complete the entries.
Rivals queue up to take on Paisley Park
Hot Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle favourite Paisley Park is one of 28 six-day entries for the Grade One contest on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival.
Emma Lavelle's stable star is set to take on a host of rivals he beat in the Cleeve Hurdle again, with West Approach, Black Op, Sam Spinner, Lil Rockerfeller, Wholestone, The Mighty Don and Agrapart all possibles to reoppose.
Other British horses that could take part include Keeper Hill, Kilbricken Storm, Old Guard, Top Notch and Yanworth.
The Irish challenge is big, with Bacardys, Bapaume, Coquin Mans, Faugheen, Melon, Benie des Dieux and Limini representing Willie Mullins alone.
Petit Mouchoir and Supasundae are other high-profile Irish runners.
JLT remains option for Defi
Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation remain on course for a ‘decider’ in the JLT Novices’ Chase – the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.
Colin Tizzard’s well-regarded Lostintranslation got the better of the Philip Hobbs-trained Defi Du Seuil in the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day but the latter – a former winner of the Triumph Hurdle – exacted his revenge in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown last month.
The pair could clash again, although Defi Du Seuil still has the opening-day option of the Racing Post Arkle over two miles.
Paul Nicholls has supplemented Capeland for the race at the six-day confirmation stage. The seven-year-old is a three-time winner over fences and was an encouraging second at Chepstow last month on his first run since a wind operation.
Nicholls already had Topofthegame in the list, which numbers 19, as he seeks to land this prize for the first time.
Other leading JLT contenders to have stood their ground at the six-day stage include Gordon Elliott’s Mengli Khan, Willie Mullins’ Real Steel and Vinndication, whose trainer Kim Bailey had a change of heart over his participation at Cheltenham following a pleasing schooling session.
Arkle favourite Glen Forsa has also been left in. Paloma Blue, Speaker Connolly and Camelia De Cotte are others to have stood their ground.
Sire in line for Pertemps showdown
Antepost favourite Sire Du Berlais feature among a strong Irish contingent heading for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.
Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud combined to good effect with Delta Work in the race 12 months ago and Sire Du Berlais has been kept fresh for it since his qualifying sixth at Leopardstown on December 28.
Elliott has a second string to his bow with A Toi Phil also set to compete in the valuable stayers’ handicap, while Gigginstown are also represented by the Noel Meade-trained Cap York and Henry De Bromhead duo Cuneo and Mormon.
Leading the home team are First Assignment who won at the track earlier in the season for Ian Williams and Philip Hobbs’ Chepstow winner Samburu Shujaa.
Splash Of Ginge, The Mighty Don, Keeper Hill and Joseph O’Brien’s Thermistocles are other notable entries.
Janika tops Plate possibles
Ante-post favourite Janika heads the weights and the betting for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the six-day entry stage.
Betaen by Siruh Du Lac at Cheltenham in January, the pair could go head to head again on the third day of the meeting.
Spiritofthegames stands his ground for Dan Skelton, while River Wylde is an interesting runner for Nicky Henderson.
High-profile absentees include Happy Diva, who fell at Newbury last weekend, while Magic Saint, Grand Annual favourite, has been taken out.
Epitante dominates Mares' entry
Following the defection of Honeysuckle, Epatante is set to start a warm favourite for the National Hunt Breeders Supported By Tattersalls Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s charge, a winner of her two British starts at Kempton and Exeter, is one of 33 to stand their ground on Friday.
Paul Nicholls’ Posh Trish is next in the market ahead of Sinoria, trained like Honeysuckle, by Henry De Bromhead. Henderson himself has Daphne Du Clos in the frame while Willie Mullins’ strong numerical challenge is led by My Sister Sarah and Salsaretta.
Roc tops Kim Muir weights
Vyta du Roc, who also holds an entry in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase on Tuesday, tops the weights for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Gordon Elliott’s ante-post favourite Measureofmydreams as expected remains on course but stablemate Its All Guesswork has been the one for money in recent days.
Any Second Now, for JP McManus and Ted Walsh is another leading Irish fancy while the owner is also responsible for one of the main British hopes in No Comment (Philip Hobbs).
Impulsive Star and The Young Master are others prominent in the betting.