Moscow Heads 29 In Queen Mother

Reigning champion Moscow Flyer heads the 29 entries, including a record 11 from Ireland, revealed today for the 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chase. »Click here for Entries

The two-mile championship event carries #290,000 in prize money, up from #250,000 last year, and is run at Cheltenham on Wednesday, March 15. Jessica Harrington's charge, who landed the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and last year, will bid to become only the second horse - following Badsworth Boy from 1983 to 1985 - to capture the famous race three times.

But the 12-year-old, who has been beaten on his three most recent starts, faces stiff opposition from a number of younger pretenders to his crown including the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star, who was impressive when beating Ashley Brook and Oneway to take the William Hill Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last month.

Kario De Sormain, a leading performer in France, is an intriguing entry and could be a first Festival runner for Jean-Paul Gallorini, the 11-times French champion trainer.

Moscow Flyer is one of a record 11 Irish-trained entries and a noticeably strong team includes Hi Cloy, who beat Fota Island in last month's Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown, as well as Central House, who looked assured of victory until his rider mistook the winning post.

The Noel Meade-trained Watson Lake, a trio trained by Paul Nolan, Accordion Etoile, Cloone River and Say Again, Jim, Justified and Newmill are among Ireland's other entries.

Along with Kauto Star, Paul Nicholls has entered the 2002 Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Hors La Loi III, also a totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup entry, Armaturk and Andreas, while Martin Pipe has three representatives - last season's Irish independent Arkle Chase winner Contraband, Locksmith and the novice Celtic Son.

Sue Smith has entered Mister McGoldrick, winner of the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on December 27, along with Town Crier, an easy hurdle winner at the West Yorkshire course last week, while another in-form entry is Dempsey, who landed a two-mile handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Edward Gillespie, Managing Director at Cheltenham Racecourse, said today: 'The Queen Mother Champion Chase has consistently produced exciting finishes year after year and another great renewal is in prospect for 2006 with a record 11 Irish-trained performers entered alongside one of France's top chasers and a strong domestic team.'