615 Handicappers added to Cheltenham Line-up

There are a total of 615 entries for the seven handicaps run at this year?s National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham from Tuesday to Thursday, March 16 to 18, with many possible contenders for the championship events given an alternative engagement.

Rhinestone Cowboy, who already holds entries for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Bonusprint Stayers? Hurdle, is one of 135 horses entered in the CORAL CUP, run on Wednesday, March 17. If taking up the handicap option, Rhinestone Cowboy?s amateur rider J P Magnier would be able to use his 5lb claim. Hand Inn Hand and Royal & SunAlliance Novices? Hurdle winners Hardy Eustace (2003) and Galileo (2002) are other eyecatching entries as well as Colm Murphy?s stable star, the novice Brave Inca.

The WILLIAM HILL NATIONAL HUNT HANDICAP CHASE, run on Tuesday, March 16, has 73 entries including recent AON Chase first and second, Shooting Light and Irish Hussar, Tripleprint Gold Cup hero Iris Royal, and Peter Bowen?s stable star Swansea Bay.

There are 114 entries for the FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHASE for amateur riders on the same day, among them the 2002 winner The Bushkeeper, no less than 17 horses from Martin Pipe?s stable, recent Newbury winner Joly Bey and Sky Bet Chase winner Tyneandthyneagain.

Tuesday also features the PERTEMPS FINAL (HANDICAP HURDLE), for which there are 48 entries, including 12 from Ireland and 10 from champion trainer Martin Pipe?s stable. Recent Haydock scorer Tardar and the past two winners, Inching Closer (2003) and Freetown (2002), are among those with entries.

Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Fondmort, 2003 Cathcart Chase heroine La Landiere and Iris Royal are among the 74 entries for the MILDMAY OF FLETE CHALLENGE CUP on Wednesday, March 17, while there are 62 engaged in the following day?s GRAND ANNUAL CHASE including Victor Chandler Chase hero Isio and last year?s winner Palarshan.

There are few more hotly-contested prizes at the Festival than the VINCENT O?BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE, which brings the curtain down on proceedings on Thursday, March 18, and the 2m 1f event has 109 entries this year, of which Martin Pipe and Nicky Henderson each account for 10. No less than 14 horses who ran in the Tote Gold Trophy have been entered for this race while Macs Joy and Kilbeggan Lad, who finished first and second at Leopardstown on February 8 before the placings were reversed in the stewards? room, could reoppose.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham?s Managing Director, commented: 'We have seen some tremendous finishes in handicaps this season both over hurdles and fences. The seven handicaps form an integral part of the Festival, adding another element to the uniqueness of the whole event.'