There are 844 entries for the handicapped races at the Cheltenham Festival next month, including 272 horse from Ireland.
With ten races to be handicapped, the 844 entries imply the festival is set to be as competitive as it’s ever been.
The first handicapped race of the meeting will be the Ultima Handicap Chase, and 83 entries are headlined by Singlefarmpayment, a horse that placed second in the race last year.
The Listed Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase will also take place on the opening day of the festival, and among 78 entries Testify shines as the early standout.
The Coral Cup commands 119 entries, including 2016 winner Diamond King.
There are slightly fewer entries for the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, with Mitochuka the one shining off the page.
In the Pertemps Final Network Handicap Hurdle, 2016 and 2017 winning trainer Patrick Kelly has two horses in a field of 52 entries, including Mall Dini and Presenting Percy.
There are 94 entries for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase, with Tully East there as a winner from last year’s festival.
Abolitionist, an early favourite fort Aintree, could use the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase for a warm-up, as he stands out amongst 77 entries.
The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle has 88 entrants, featuring Mick Jazz, Bleu Et Rouge, and Sandsend – the latter two both Paddy Mullins horses.
The most popular race has been the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, which attracted 146 entrants. Flawess Escape headlines the crop entered by last year’s winning trainer, Gordon Elliott.
The final handicapped race of the week will be the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, which received 65 entries, including the Jessica Harrington-trained Rock the World, who won last year.
