WEIGHTS ANNOUNCED FOR FESTIVAL HANDICAPS Weights for the seven handicaps at this year`s Festival have been released today, with Irish-trained horses heading the lists for four of the seven races. Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Commanche Court, second in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton last Saturday for trainer Ted Walsh, tops the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase on 11st 13lb. De Vere Gold Cup winner Frantic Tan, the 5-1 favourite for the race with Coral, is set to carry 11st 1lb. Another Gold Cup contender, Legal Right, tops the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase on 12st, for which Coral`s 4-1 favourite Young Spartacus - Commanche Court`s conqueror at Kempton - is on 11st 4lb. Co. Kildare trainer Christy Roche and owner JP McManus supply the top weights in three of the handicaps. His Stayers` Hurdle hope Youlneverwalkalone has 12st in the Coral Eurobet Cup, for which the sponsor`s favourite Seixo Branco is currently on 9st 2lb. Roche`s Khayrawani, winner of the Coral Cup in 1999, carries 12st inthe Ladbrokes Casinos Final for which Coral`s 7-1 favourite Barba Papa has been set 10st 11lb. Martin Pipe provides six of the top nine in the handicap for the Vincent O`Brien Handicap Hurdle but the presence of Roche`s Grimes on top weight of 12st currently compresses the weights. As a result Coral`s 8-1 favourite Batswing is 15lb out of the weights on 8st 13lb. The Paul Nicholls-trained Fadalko heads the Grand Annual Chase on 12st 2lb with his stablemate Whitenzo, Coral`s 7-2 favourite, on 10st 8lb, while Bindaree is top weight for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. The remaining four races at the 2001 National Hunt Festival - the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the Christie`s Foxhunter Chase and the Cathcart Challenge Cup - close today with entries announced next Monday.
