Huge Festival Novice Chase Entries

Bumper entries are revealed today for The Festival's two Grade One novice chases ? The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Tuesday, March 11) and Royal & SunAlliance Chase (Wednesday, March 12) ? which continue to prove unrivalled steps to future championship honours.

There are a record 64 entries for The Irish Independent Arkle Chase including the likes of Tidal Bay, a facile novice chase winner at Cheltenham in December, 2006 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Noland, who made a flawless debut over fences at Folkestone on Monday, and the Charlie Mann-trained Moon Over Miami.

David Pipe, whose father Martin trained four of the last 10 winners in this event, has six representatives including Acambo, who made a promising chasing debut at Ascot in November.

There are 20 Irish-trained entries - another record - with Willie Mullins accounting for five of those possible contenders including recent runaway Leopardstown winner Glencove Marina. Meanwhile trainer Paul Nolan today confirmed French Accordion, a four-time winner over fences this season, on target for the Grade One event.

'The plan is to run French Accordion in The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at The Festival. He's a good ground specialist and that would be the deciding factor,' said Nolan.

'He's a couple of stone worse on yielding or soft ground, so we're hoping that we get decent ground at Cheltenham in March. He travels so much better and jumps so much sweeter on better ground. The handicapper has given French Accordion a mark of 146, which would be among the top novices in Ireland.

'Although it looked like a weak Fortria Chase at Navan in November, he could do no more than win, and he was impressive and jumped very well. He came out of that race without a blemish on him or a sore joint, which is unusual for a big heavy horse. He just loves to hear his hooves rattle.

'He's probably got more improvement in him and we have given him a break since his run in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, when it was probably a mistake to run him in such testing conditions.

'He's very hard to get fit, so he'll definitely need a run before going to Cheltenham. He's rated below 120 over hurdles, so a nice handicap will probably be the way forward.'

There are three French-trained entries ? Okaido, trained by Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, Pepsyrock from Guillaume Macaire's stable and Takeroc, based in Pau with Loic Manceau.

A total of 22 horses have the option of both The Irish Independent Arkle Chase and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, for which there are 78 entries, and among those in the two events are Glencove Marina, Noland, Okaido and Tidal Bay.

Colin Tizzard's stable star Joe Lively, who has scored twice over fences at Cheltenham this season, is sure to be a leading contender alongside the likes of Nicky Henderson's Duc De Regniere while Nicky Richards today issued an upbeat bulletin on Money Trix, an impressive chasing debutant at Newcastle last week.

'Money Trix has been entered for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at The Festival. I couldn't have been more pleased with his first run over fences and he seems fine after that race,' said Richards.

'He'll have one or two more runs in novice company and then we will take it from there. His next appearance will be in a novices' chase at Ayr on February 9.

'His running at Cheltenham will be dependent on the ground and it will have to be the soft side of good for him to take his chance in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase. We won't risk him on anything firmer. It's early days but we are very happy with his progress so far.'

Other leading contenders include the Charlie Mann-trained Air Force One, who runs at Fontwell today, while Paul Nicholls ? successful in 2007 with Denman and 2006 with Star De Mohaison - has seven engaged, including Big Buck's, Nevada Royale, Noland and Silverburn.

The 22 Irish-trained entries include the Edward O'Grady-trained Sky's The Limit, Glencove Marina and his stablemates Pomme Tiepy and J'y Vole, and Hairy Molly, the 2006 Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner who has yet to run over fences.

Edward Gillespie, Managing Director at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: 'It is enormously encouraging to see such large and high-quality entries for the two Festival Grade One novice chases. As well as being important events in their own right, the races continue to be important stepping stones to future championship races as illustrated by the victory of Voy Por Ustedes in last season's Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, 12 months after landing The Irish Independent Arkle Chase, while there are high hopes for the 2007 Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero Denman in this year's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.'