Altior surges past Un De Sceaux at Sandown
Altior surges past Un De Sceaux at Sandown

Cheltenham Festival: Wednesday entries including Queen Mother Champion Chase


Altior tops a potential field of 12 for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase - check out all the latest entries for Wednesday's Cheltenham Festival races.

Min and Footpad could face Altior

Odds-on favourite Altior heads a dozen horses still in contention for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

Nicky Henderson's superstar has won his last 17 starts over jumps, including at the past three Festivals, and could face a trio of Willie Mullins runners after the Irish champion trainer left in Min, Footpad and Un De Sceaux.

God's Own is a standing dish at the Festival and is set to line up again in the two-mile championship for Tom George, while Harry Whittington has confirmed Saint Calvados.

Hell's Kitchen is a potential improver for Harry Fry and JP McManus while the dream is still alive for Phil Kirby whose Lady Buttons may represent the yard in the day-two highlight.

Paul Nicholls has left the option to run Politologue and Alan King has Sceau Royal in the mix.

The potential line-up is completed by Castlegrace Paddy, Ordinary World for Pat Fahy and Henry De Bromhead respectively.

Click here for Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase six-day decs

Sky Bet's latest Festival Fever offer
Sky Bet's latest Festival Fever offer

Big clash still on in RSA

Delta Work and Santini remain on target to clash in Wednesday’s RSA Insurance Novices' Chase for which there were 11 six-day acceptors.

The former won the Pertemps Final at last year’s Festival for Gordon Elliott and is unbeaten in three races over fences, including the Grade One Neville Hotels Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown.

Santini suffered an injury scare earlier in the week when ripping a shoe off in a racecourse gallop, but is back on target for the race. He made a winning start over fences at Newbury in December before finishing third behind La Bague Au Rio in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

Nicky Henderson could also run On The Blind Side but has taken Ok Corral out of the race with Champagne Classic another notable absentee.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Topofthegame, a place in front of Santini at Kempton, is another leading fancy.

Click here for RSA Insurance Novices' Chase six-day decs

Henderson pair stay in Ballymore

Nicky Henderson has left both Champ and Birchdale in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the six-day stage.

The former is expected to represent the Seven Barrows trainer having landed the Challow at Newbury last time, with Birchdale reportedly pencilled in for the Albert Bartlett later in the week.

Battleoverdoyen heads a strong Irish challenge which also includes Klassical Dream and City Island.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Klassical Dream, has nine other acceptors including the much-vaunted Annamix who was beaten on his Irish debut at Limerick over Christmas and hasn’t run since.

Brewinupastorm and Beakstown are two other leading home hopes.

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Click here for Ballymore Novices' Hurdle six-day decs

Ultra-strong Irish Coral Cup entry

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are both extremely well represented in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, though The Storyteller has been taken out by the latter.

The Storyteller has options elsewhere at the Festival including entries in the Ryanair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup but Elliott has eight potential Coral Cup runners including last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Farclas, Cracking Smart, Tombstone, Dallas Des Pictons and Eclair De Beaufeu who all represent the Gigginstown House Stud ownership.

Mullins has no less than 11 contenders at the six-day stage, featuring Scarpeta, Whiskey Sour, Kilultagh Vic, Bleu Berry and Uradel.

Paul Nicholls could saddle Old Guard, Brio Conti and My Way engaged in the valuable handicap over two miles, five furlongs, while other leading contenders Vision Des Flos, Erik Le Rouge and Highest Sun also stand their ground.

Click here for Coral Cup six-day decs

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Tiger tops 22 in Glenfarclas

Last year’s winner Tiger Roll is among 22 six-day acceptors for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Gordon Elliott’s remarkable nine-year-old is bidding for a fourth win at the Festival and warmed-up with a 25/1 success in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

Stablemate Bless The Wings stands his ground while Enda Bolger has his traditional strong hand courtesy of Auvergnat and Josie’s Orders.

Ultragold is set to represent Colin Tizzard while Amazing Comedy and Urgent de Gregaine are potential runners for France.

Click here for Glenfarclas Chase six-day decs

New top weight in Boodles

Torpillo is top-weight for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle following the defection of Fusil Raffles, Gardens Of Babylon and Adjali at the six-day stage.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge was an impressive winner of his first two British starts at Sandown but finished last of four in the William Hill Victor Ludorum at Haydock.

Joseph O’Brien still has a strong hand with Fine Brunello, Band Of Outlaws and Star Max in the frame.

Other leading fancies include Paul Nicholls’ Friend Or Foe and Lethal Steps who is one of two entries for Cheveley Park and Gordon Elliott. The other is Chief Justice.

Nick Gifford’s Belargus, well backed in recent days, is an interesting entry for JP McManus.

Mullins goes solo in Champion Bumper

Willie Mullins - the leading trainer with nine previous winners in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper - will rely on just one runner this year in the shape of four-year-old Blue Sari.

The 11-length Gowran Park winner is one of two four-year-olds among the 18 six-day acceptors, Martyn Meade leaving in Cascova.

Paul Nicholls could be doubly represented with Flic Ou Voyou and the well-bred Ask For Glory, while Colin Tizzard has Cheltenham winner Master Debonair engaged.

Gordon Elliott's Envoi Allen tops the antepost betting and he could be joined by stable companions Daylight Katie and Abacadabras, while Joseph O'Brien's Meticulous is another interesting Irish runner.

Get In The Queue, trained by Harry Fry and owned by Paul and Clare Rooney, is another strong contender for the home team.

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