Cheltenham novice chase entries revealed

Sizing Europe and Captain Cee Bee head the entries for The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

There are 47 entries for the two-mile championship contest on the opening day of the Festival

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe maintained his unbeaten record over fences after Captain Cee Bee fell at the last when travelling ominously well in the Grade One Bord Na Mona Nature Novices' Chase at Leopardstown in December.

Captain Cee Bee's fall left Osana, runner-up to Katchit in the 2008 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle when trained by David Pipe, to take second place to Sizing Europe.

This season Osana has been under the care of Edward O'Grady, the most successful current Irish trainer at The Festival, and prior to his Leopardstown second, the horse had won twice over fences at Navan.

Michael Goodbody, racing manager to Osana's owner Thomas Barr, commented: "Osana is very much on course for the Arkle.

"We are planning to run him in the Grade Two Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan on February 14th, which will be his final prep before the Festival.

"I don't think you can complain about his first season over fences so far - whether he is good enough to win at Cheltenham is a bit of an unknown - but he is such a tough and consistent horse.

"Edward has been pleased with how he has taken to chasing and I think that the faster pace and the bigger field of a championship race, especially at Cheltenham, will play to his strengths.

"We knew that Sizing Europe was the horse to beat in this division before we took him on at Leopardstown and I don't think that much has changed since then.

"Cheltenham has been our objective for quite some time and we have been building him up for March. He will come on a lot for his run at Navan and hopefully we can try and turn the form around at The Festival."

Captain Cee Bee landed the 2008 Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle for trainer Edward Harty and owner J P McManus.

The superb Arkle entry also includes fellow past Festival winners Mikael D'Haguenet (2009 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle) and Cousin Vinny (2008 Weatherbys Champion Bumper) from the eight from the Willie Mullins yard.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls landed the Arkle with Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Azertyuiop (2003).

He has five entries this year, headed by Tataniano, successful from the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Pigeon Island over the course and distance in the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase on November 15th.

What is shaping to be an epic renewal could also feature the Henrietta Knight-trained Somersby and a whole bevy of contenders from Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows stable, headed by the outstanding French import, Long Run and the recent Kempton winner Mad Max.

That triple Grade One winner, along with the aforementioned Mullins pair, are also engaged in the Grade One RSA Chase over three miles at the Festival on Wednesday March 17th, which has attracted 71 entries.

Grade One winning hurdlers that have taken to fences this term and could start in the RSA Chase include the Henderson-trained Punchestowns, Mighty Man from the Henry Daly yard and the exciting Diamond Harry, trained by Nick Williams.

Last season's Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle hero Weapons Amnesty, in the care of Charles Byrnes, could also line up at Prestbury Park, while the Renee Robeson-trained Ogee, victorious in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree is another that may attempt to lift the spoils.

The staying novice chase division also includes the likes of Grade One winner Pandorama, Oscar Looby, Weird Al and the Francois Doumen-trained Doctor Pat, whose dam, Bilboa, finished third in the 2002 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Noel Meade's Pandorama is the stand-out name in an 80-strong entry for this year's National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.

The seven-year-old is a dual Grade One winner over fences this season and is one of the leading hopes for the RSA Chase on the same day.

Meade has also entered Sigma Lifestyle, while Willie Mullins has Cousin Vinny, Apt Approach and Shakervilz amongst his sextet.

Jonjo O'Neill has won the race five times and his Theatrical Moment, favourite for the Sky Bet Chase this weekend, will have plenty of supporters if he takes his chance.

Paul Nicholls' Inchidaly Rock, due to run in the Argento Chase this weekend, could be joined by stablemates Forest Pennant and Massasoit.

Nigel Twiston-Davies landed last year's renewal with Tricky Trickster and has this year entered Pettifour and Jaunty Journey.

There is also Australian interest among the entries as Ginolad, another with an engagement in the RSA Chase, won the Victoria Racing Club Grand National and contested the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan for Aussie trainer Aaron Purcell before joining the Venetia Williams yard.