Plenty of Irish interest in the UK today The three day Open meeting at Cheltenham gets underway this afternoon, with eight Irish trained horses making the journey across. The Tony Martin trained Victrix Gale is the sole Irish representative in the opener at 1:05, the Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase, and the seven-year-old mare will be ridden by Jamie Codd. Half an hour later Ballyadam Brook, for Terence O’Brien and Paul Townend, takes his chance in the valuable Paddy Power Handicap Chase. All eyes will be on the Nicky Henderson trained Oscar Whisky in the 2:05, as the two time Aintree Hurdle winner makes his debut over fences. Five Irish will do battle in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at 3:15, with Uncle Junior, for Willie and Patrick Mullins, bidding to record his third success in-a-row in the race. Enda Bolger will be represented by Zest For Life (Nina Carberry) and Quiscover Fontaine (Richie McLernon), while Chicago Grey, for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell, and Theroadtocroker, for Denis Murphy and Paul Gahan, are the other two Irish trained runners in the eleven strong field. Twenty line-up for the last at 3:50, the Countryside Raceday Novices' Handicap Hurdle, and Quick Jack is likely to go off favourite for Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh. The four-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand won a handicap hurdle at Listowel in September, and he then won on the level at Navan, before finishing second to Sir Ector in the November Handicap at Leopardstown. Meanwhile at Newcastle, Stuart Crawford sends over three, in the shape of Mister Nibbles (12:10), Aintnosanityclause (1:15) and Got The Nac (3:25). All three will be ridden by his brother Steven, while Johnny Levins will also be represented in the 3:25, he saddles Res Ipsa Loquitur who will be ridden by Paul Power.
