BEST MATE HEADS NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRIES

Ante-post favourites Best Mate and Bacchanal headed entries revealed today for the novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

A total of 51 horses have been put in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase on the opening day of the meeting, a figure bettered only once in the last 11 years.

Betting on the two-mile event is dominated by the Henrietta Knight-trained Best Mate, quoted at just 2-1 by Coral, who is unbeaten in two novice chases and is due to run next at Sandown a week on Saturday.

Martin Pipe, successful with Or Royal in 1997 and Champleve in 1998, has seven entries, including well-regarded ex-French gelding Ilnamar and smart hurdlers Seebald and Valiramix who have both yet to run over fences.

But JP McManus` Champion Hurdle outsider Youlneverwalkalone, quoted at 12-1 by Coral, is not in a race for which Ireland`s main hopes appear to be Knife Edge and Sunday`s Leopardstown winner Well Ridden.

Since winning at Kempton on Boxing Day Bacchanal has headed betting on the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, one of the few Festival races to have eluded his three-time Arkle-winning trainer Nicky Henderson.

Last year`s Stayers` Hurdle winner, 7-2 favourite with Coral, is among 61 entries for the 25-furlong event in which Ireland`s team is headed by Sackville (6-1), who won at Cheltenham last November.

Ilnamar is also among eight possible runners for Pipe, who lifted this prize with Rolling Ball in 1991 and Miinnehoma in 1992.

Irish Independent Arkle Chase: Coral bet: 2-1 Best Mate, 7-1 Dusk Duel, 8-1 Knife Edge, 10-1 Exit To Wave, Well Ridden, 12-1 bar.

Royal & SunAlliance Chase: Coral bet: 7-1 Bacchanal, 6-1 Sackville, Shotgun Willy, 8-1 Behrajan, 12-1 bar.