Racing's most prestigious hunter chase, the £40,000 Christie's Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup, run over the Gold Cup course of an extended three miles and two furlongs on Friday, March 14, at Cheltenham, has attracted 43 entries, including 10 from Ireland.
With three entered, last year's winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill has the most runners in the race at this stage. His trio is headed by Drombeag, successful in this race 12 months ago, Knife Edge and Risk Accessor, winner of his last four starts. The lightly-raced first-named has yet to run this season, but a similar tactic was applied successfully last year.
The raiding team from Ireland is headed by the Pat Martin-trained Agus A Vic, who followed up a good maiden win with an equally comprehensive winners of two victory in late 2006. This season, he has won two from two, beating a good field that included runner-up Climate Control and fourth home Moscow Maui at Leopardstown on February 10, while In The Loop was second to him at Down Royal on Boxing Day, when Climate Control pulled-up.
Alert The Earth, a convincing winner at Down Royal on February 27, has now secured six of his seven starts this year and is a second entry from Roy Wilson's stable along with In The Loop.
Top Irish pointer Arctic Times, who runs in the colours of Trevor Hemmings and has won 27 of his 37 career starts between the flags, has been entered by Eugene O'Sullivan, while Robert Tyner has entered Railway Ranger, who was in contention when unseating three out behind Agus A Vic at Leopardstown.
Paul Nicholls, successful twice in this race in the last four years, has entered Lou Du Moulin Mas and former high-class chaser Thisthatandtother, who was second to Twenty Degrees at Fakenham on February 15 after winning his first start in this sphere. Nicholls' first-named entrant has won both of his starts this season, beating Honourable Spider on his seasonal debut.
Others of note from home include Alan Hill's Bon Accord, Paul Jones' Christy Beamish and Richard Barber's top pointer Gaye Trigger.