Massive 39 Go Forward For totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup

A massive total of 39 horses remain engaged in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, run on Friday, March 17, following yesterday's forfeit stage, details of which are revealed today, Wednesday, February 22.

The 39 hopefuls, up from 27 at this stage in 2005, includes all of the leading fancies for chasing's Blue Riband including Beef Or Salmon, Monkerhostin, Celestial Gold, Kingscliff, Our Vic, Sir Rembrandt, Take The Stand and War Of Attrition.

In the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, run on Tuesday, March 14, there 23 horses, headed by Hardy Eustace, bidding to become the sixth triple winner of hurdling's greatest prize. Strong competition is likely to come in the form of Al Eile, Arcalis, Brave Inca, Faasel and Mac's Joy.

There are 20 contenders remaining in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the highlight on Wednesday, March 15. Moscow Flyer, seeking his third success in the two-mile championship contest, heads the acceptors and is set to face stiff competition from the likes of Ashley Brook, Central House, French raider Kario de Sormain, Kauto Star and Fota Island.

Taking centre stage on Thursday, March 16, is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, for which 36 go forward at this stage, sharply up from 22 last year. French raider Baracouda, seeking to repeat his wins in 2002 and 2003 to become the first triple winner of the long distance hurdling championship, tops the list while the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Rhinestone Cowboy is also still engaged. A particularly strong Irish-trained contingent includes Asian Maze, Al Eile, Golden Cross, Emotional Moment and Strangely Brown. Also run on the Thursday is the Ryanair Chase, where the 39 entries remaining include Impek, Fondmort, Hi Cloy, Our Vic, Sir Oj and War Of Attrition.

A very strong renewal of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase is in prospect with a huge 57 going forward including the likes of Darkness, Our Ben, Southern Vic, Bewleys Berry, Commercial Flyer and The Listener. Similarly, the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy looks set for a high-class field with 40 remaining. Accordion Etoile, Foreman, Justified, Monet's Garden, Voy Por Ustedes and Don't Be Shy are all still engaged. Two of the best novices of the season - Racing Demon and Missed That - are in both the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

Competitive fields seem certain for the four championship novice hurdles, with 61 remaining in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 82 in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, 75 in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and 74 in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, commented: 'With just less than three weeks to go, the build-up to The Festival is entering the final stages.

'The publication of entries going forward in the 11 Championship races adds to the sense of anticipation. We know that we will see new champions crowned in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and Ladbrokes World Hurdle, while all eyes will be on Festival regulars Hardy Eustace and Moscow Flyer as they both bid for historic third victories in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase respectively.'