A record 33 in for Queen Mother glory

Sizing Europe, Special Tiara and Moscow Mannon give trainer Henry de Bromhead a strong hand in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on March 11.

Old favourite Sizing Europe won the race in 2011, while Special Tiara was last seen producing a sparkling display from the front to land the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas, and Moscow Mannon managed fifth in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.

De Bromhead said: "Sizing Europe is well and in good form.

"We are just taking it one race at a time with him at the moment, but it is better to be entered at Cheltenham rather than not. That was our thinking, anyway.

"He is in the Clarence House at Ascot next weekend but I'm not sure if he will travel over. It will all depend on the ground.

"The Champion Chase is the aim for Special Tiara. He has come out of Kempton very well and is in great form.

"We delighted with him there - it was a brilliant performance - and it was great to get him back on the winning trail again.

"We still need to think about whether or not he will run again as I haven't given it a lot of thought yet.

"We were happy with Moscow Mannon in Leopardstown and he seems to be in good form after the race. He will probably go for the Champion Chase as well and I would be hopeful of a good performance."

Willie Mullins has entered Champagne Fever, Twinlight, Ballycasey and Turban in the Champion Chase, but not the novice Vautour, while Don Cossack has been put in by Gordon Elliott. Hidden Cyclone has also been given the option by Shark Hanlon.

Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy are the headline acts in a record 33 entries.

Last season's two-mile sensation Sire De Grugy has suffered with a hip injury and hasn't been seen since April, while Sprinter Sacre, who won the race in 2013, has been absent for over a year but is on track to return at Ascot on Saturday week.

Gary Moore is open to running Sire De Grugy over hurdles, should his intended comeback in Newbury's Game Spirit Chase on February 7 fall victim to the weather.

Moore is pleased Sire De Grugy's injury was not as bad as first feared but is desperate to get a run into his stable star.

The West Sussex handler told www.betway.co.uk: "We've got until February 7 to get him ready for the Game Spirit and he'll go there unless the ground is firm, and we all know there's no chance of that.

"If disaster struck and the weather did claim Newbury's meeting, we'd have to do something with him because there is no chance we could go straight to the Betway Champion Chase without a prep run.

"I could even look to run him in a hurdle race, if necessary, but fingers crossed we don't have to go down that route."

Sprinter Sacre's trainer Nicky Henderson has put in 2012 scorer Finian's Rainbow but hasn't entered Simonsig, who has not raced since winning the Arkle in March 2013 and is not expected to run this season.

Tingle Creek scorer Dodging Bullets is one of several entries, which includes Al Ferof, Hinterland and Mr Mole, for Paul Nicholls.

Alan King, successful with Voy Por Ustedes in 2007, has two strong contenders in Uxizandre and Balder Succes, while Nicky Richards may run Eduard and Simply Ned.