Plenty of Irish among Greatwood 26 There is a strong Irish contingent at the confirmation stage for the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday. Champion trainer Willie Mullins has left in Renneti, Daneking and Noble Inn, with Noel Meade's Waxies Dargle and the Tony Martin-trained Redera the other potential raiders. Sign Of A Victory heads the Greatwood weights after 26 horses stood their ground. The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old made a pleasing seasonal reappearance in a similarly competitive handicap at Ascot. The Seven Barrows handler could also call upon Days Of Heaven, who won three times over hurdles last season but has not been seen since disappointing at Aintree in April. Philip Hobbs has saddled four previous winners of the Greatwood in Rooster Booster (2002), Detroit City (2006), Menorah (2010) and last year's victor Garde La Victoire and his only potential representative this time is Rock The Kasbah, who finished runner-up in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last month. John Ferguson has a formidable hand, with recent course winner Devilment, Three Kingdoms, ante-post favourite Nabucco and Vancouverite all on the list. Paul Nicholls has Old Guard and Bouvreuil in contention.
