Marathon Event Attracts 50

Letheby & Christopher will sponsor the National Hunt Chase at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

The company had been due to back the Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham's abandoned meeting on January 28 and this Festival sponsorship is initially for one year.

A total of 50 horses have been entered for the four-mile-one-furlong contest including five from Jonjo O'Neill's yard.

Drombeag, Garde Champetre, Millenaire, Monte Vista and Steppes Of Gold could represent the Jackdaws Castle handler, who has won three of the last four runnings.

Ireland's 17 entries include the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire, winner of his last five starts, while the Paul Nicholls-trained Blue Business, Mage D'Estruval from Henry Daly's stable and the Ron Hodges-trained Preacher Boy are among the domestic possibles.

A record 46-strong entry has been made for the Christie's Foxhunter Chase, otherwise known as the Gold Cup for amateurs.

Harbour Pilot, who finished third to Best Mate in the 2003 and 2004 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cups, is one of 13 Irish-trained contenders as is the John Brennan-trained Climate Control, winner of two hunter chases this season.

O'Neill's Drombeag is also entered in this race as is Telemoss, trained by Nicky Richards and last year's runner-up Foly Pleasant.

? PA Sport