Strong Irish entry at Cheltenham Henry de Bromhead is looking forward to saddling a trio of runners at the opening fixture of the season at Cheltenham. The two-day 'Showcase' meeting at Prestbury Park sees the National Hunt campaign step up a gear and there is a particularly strong Irish representation on Friday. The seven-race card commences with the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, for which three of the seven runners have made the trip across the Irish Sea. De Bromhead runs Exxaro, who has won his last two starts over obstacles at Tipperary and Killarney. "Barry Geraghty gave him a very good ride at Killarney and it was a good performance," said the County Waterford-based trainer. "Exxaro has progressed with each run over hurdles and I think the step up in trip has also helped him. "All of his best runs have come on good ground as well, so he may get conditions to suit at Cheltenham." With Geraghty partnering the prolific Sandymount Duke for Jessica Harrington, Johnny Burke gets back on Exxaro in the two-mile-five-furlong contest. Recent Navan scorer Casual Approach lines up for Gordon Elliott, with John Ferguson's Penglai Pavilion heading the home team. De Bromhead also runs Sizing Codelco in the £20,000 squareintheair.com Novices' Chase and Damefirth in the concluding Harrison James & Hardie Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle. Sizing Codelco opened his account over fences in some style at Listowel last month and faces Harrington's Rock The World, Ferguson's Qewy and the Paul Nicholls-trained Dormello Mo over two miles. "I was very happy with his win at Listowel and hopefully he can go on from that. We went chasing with him at the start of last season but it just wasn't happening and he was only five so we said that we would go back hurdling," said de Bromhead. Kilfinichen Bay bids for his fifth win on the bounce in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle for trainer Charlie Longsdon and jockey Richard Johnson. The Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase appears a particularly competitive heat, with five of the seven runners having already won twice over fences. Champion trainer Nicholls runs Vicente, A Good Skin has already won at the track for Tom George and Irish hopes rest on the shoulders of Colin Bowe's Shantou Flyer. Point-to-point and bumper winner Drumlee Sunset makes his first start over timber in the Bet And Watch At winner.co.uk Maiden Hurdle for Philip Hobbs. Neil Mulholland has booked Sam Waley-Cohen to ride Perfect Timing as the trainer bids to win the winner.co.uk Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase for the third time in five years. Savello, winner of the Grand Annual at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival for Tony Martin, reverts to the smaller obstacles on his first start for new trainer Dan Skelton in the concluding conditional jockeys' race. Bridget Andrews takes the ride.
