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Final Cheltenham entries revealed

QuevegaQuevega
© Healy Racing Photos

Entries for all 27 races at the Cheltenham Festival are now in the public domain with the unveiling of the contenders for the Grade Two OLBG Mares' Hurdle, the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper and the CGA Foxhunter Chase.

Quevega heads 36 entries for the £85,000 Grade Two OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

The Willlie Mullins-trained nine-year-old is bidding to become only the second horse to win a race at the Festival on five occasions following Golden Miller, who captured the Cheltenham Gold Cup five times between 1932 and 1936.

Her main dangers this year may come from her own stable, with Mullins also being responsible for Grade Three scorers Tarla and Zuzka.

Nicky Henderson has entered top-class French import Utopie Des Bordes and last season's Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winner Une Artiste, who is unbeaten this term, while Emma Lavelle could be represented by Cleeve Hurdle third Kentford Grey Lady.

The Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper, worth £60,000, has attracted 51 entries.

Irish-trained horses have won 15 of the 20 renewals of the race and a typically strong challenge from this country features Tony Martin's Golantilla, who was reportedly purchased by leading owner Barry Connell for €375,000 after a 13-length success at Cork in January, as well as a five-strong hand from Mullins, headed by Clondaw Court and Navan Grade Two scorer Union Dues.

Champion Flat trainer Aidan O'Brien could have his first runner at the Festival since Istabraq was pulled up in the 2002 Stan James Champion Hurdle. He is responsible for Shield, who finished fourth on his debut at Punchestown on February 20.

The English team is headed by a number of exciting debut winners including Jeremy Scott's Empiracle, recent Wetherby victor Diamond King, and Milo Man, who scored by 25 lengths at Taunton.

Salsify captured the 2012 CGA Foxhunter Chase for the Sweeney family and the eight-year-old is among 39 contenders for this year's renewal.

He is likely to renew his rivalry with Tammys Hill, who has beaten him twice this season, and last year's runner-up Chapoturgeon, who scored easily on his return at Newbury in January.

Other notable entries include comfortable Haydock victor Cottage Oak and 2009 John Oaksey National Hunt Chase hero Tricky Trickster.